"On Jan. 17, 2014, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced a seven-year, $215 million extension with franchise cornerstone Clayton Kershaw, giving him the largest contract in the organization's history at the time. The Dodgers were able to come to an agreement with Kershaw one year before he would have been eligible for free agency. Kershaw's new contract with the Dodgers not only made him the highest paid pitcher in MLB at the time, but it was also the highest-ever annual salary for a baseball player at $30.7 million per year."
"At just 25 years old, Kershaw became only the third pitcher in MLB history to lead the Majors in ERA for three straight seasons and won two National League Cy Young awards up to that point. Additionally, he had led the NL in strikeouts twice, won a Gold Glove award and captured the pitcher's triple crown in 2011. In 2013, Kershaw had a minuscule 1.83 ERA and racked up 232 strikeouts while logging 236 innings."
"While the 2013 season was his best season up to that point and one of the best of his career in the present, he surpassed even the loftiest of expectations following his big payday with a 2014 season for the ages. Kershaw's dropped his ERA to 1.77 while increasing his strikeout percentage to a ridiculous 31.9%, which is only bested by his 2015 mark. Opponents only hit .196 against Kershaw and he only issued 31 walks all season, which contributed to his 0.86 WHIP. He also tossed a 15-strikeout no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies on June 18, 2014."
Clayton Kershaw signed a seven-year, $215 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Jan. 17, 2014, a deal that set franchise records and produced the highest annual salary in baseball at $30.7 million. The agreement came one year before free agency eligibility. Kershaw had already led the majors in ERA three straight seasons, won two NL Cy Young awards, led the NL in strikeouts twice, won a Gold Glove and captured the pitcher’s triple crown in 2011. In 2013 he posted a 1.83 ERA with 232 strikeouts. In 2014 he lowered his ERA to 1.77, posted a 31.9% strikeout rate, threw a 15-strikeout no-hitter, and earned both the Cy Young and NL MVP awards.
Read at Dodger Blue
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