Three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw has opted to decline his $10 million player option with the Los Angeles Dodgers and become a free agent.
The MLB Players Association listed Kershaw as a free agent in a statement released Monday. The left-handed pitcher is still expected to re-sign with the Dodgers, his only major league team in his 17-year career.
The 36-year-old was plagued by injuries for much of last season, finishing with a 2-2 record and a 4.50 ERA in seven starts.
The Dodgers exercised a $5 million option on infielder Miguel Rojas and a $3.5 million option on catcher Austin Barnes. Barnes was the Dodgers’ second-longest tenured player behind Kershaw, playing 10 seasons.
Rojas, 35, just finished one of the best seasons of his 11-year career, batting .283 with six home runs and 36 RBIs. Barnes batted .264 with one home run and 11 RBIs.
Los Angeles also extended a $21.05 million qualifying offer to Teoscar Hernandez, a slugger who hit a career-high 33 home runs. Players must accept by November 19th at 4pm EST.
If that happens, Hernandez will be under contract with the Dodgers for one more season. If he declines and signs elsewhere, his new team would have to forfeit at least one draft pick, and Los Angeles would receive at least one draft pick as compensation.
