Three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw has decided not to take the $10 million player option offered by the Los Angeles Dodgers, choosing to become a free agent instead.
The MLB Players Association confirmed Kershaw’s free agent status in a statement on Monday. Although he is now a free agent, it is expected that Kershaw will re-sign with the Dodgers, the only team he has played for during his 17-year career.
The 36-year-old pitcher was injured for a large part of last season, finishing with a 2-2 record and a 4.50 ERA over seven starts.
The Dodgers also picked up the $5 million option for infielder Miguel Rojas and a $3.5 million option for catcher Austin Barnes. Barnes is the second-longest tenured Dodgers player, having played 10 seasons with the team, behind only Kershaw.
Rojas, 35, just completed one of his best seasons in his 11-year career, with a .283 batting average, six home runs, and 36 RBIs. Barnes finished the season with a .264 average, one home run, and 11 RBIs.
In addition, Los Angeles extended a $21.05 million qualifying offer to outfielder Teoscar Hernández, who hit a career-high 33 home runs. Hernández has until 4 p.m. EST on November 19 to decide whether to accept the offer.
If Hernández accepts, he will be under contract with the Dodgers for another year. If he declines and signs with a different team, that team will need to give up at least one draft pick, and the Dodgers will receive at least one draft pick as compensation.
