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Report: Dodgers Give Clayton Kershaw Record Contract
Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the 83rd MLB All-Star Game at Kauffman Stadium on July 10, 2012 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
ESPN is reporting that the Dodgers are giving Clayton Kershaw a seven-year, $215 million contract, a record deal for a starting pitcher.
That shatters Detroit Tigers starter Justin Verlander's seven-year, $180 million deal inked last year. The $30.7 million average annual value also shatters the $28 million Roger Clemens brought in on a one-year deal in 2007.
Kershaw can opt-out after five seasons.
The 25-year old southpaw just won his second Cy Young Award in three years after coming in second in voting after the 2012 season. Kershaw just got through one of the more dominant pitching seasons in recent history with a 1.83 ERA, 232 strikeouts, 0.915 WHIP and 194 ERA+.