Dodgers face winter of decisions on some big names
Having lost in the World Series for the second straight year, the Dodgers enter an offseason filled with decisions about some of the franchise’s biggest names, including Clayton Kershaw, Manny Machado and manager Dave Roberts.
First up is Kershaw, who has until Wednesday to decide whether to opt out of the last two years and $65 million of his contract.
If he does, the 30-yearold pitcher who has spent his entire 11-season career in Los Angeles can become a free agent. The front office has made it clear it wants Kershaw to remain the face of the franchise.
“I just hope they do the right thing,” pitcher Rich Hill said about management retaining his fellow left-hander.
Kershaw wasn’t able to rewrite his postseason legacy of struggles, giving up three home runs Sunday in the Dodgers’ loss to the Red Sox in the deciding Game 5 .
The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner is 9-10 with a 4.32 ERA in the postseason. In two straight World Series, he’s 1-2 with an ERA of 5.40. Four of his six postseason starts in elimination games have ended in losses, including Sunday’s 5-1 defeat.
“I’m proud of how he competes and he never gives up,” closer Kenley Jansen said. “I know that Kersh will keep motivating himself to get back on this stage next year. That’s what we’re going to do. We will keep motivating ourselves to get back here again.”
Machado was the Dodgers’ splashy acquisition, brought in midseason from Baltimore to help them win their first World Series since 1988 after shortstop Corey Seager got hurt.