Titleless Dodgers face winter with decisions on big names

Having lost L OS A NGELE S 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 30yearold pitcher who has spent his entire 11season 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 lefthander.

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 threetime NL Cy Young Award winner is 910 with a 4.32 ERA in the postseason. In two straight World Series, he’s 12 with an ERA of 5.40. Four of his six postseason starts in elimination games have ended in losses, including Sunday’s 51 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.

Instead, they lost the Series to Boston 41 and watched the visiting team celebrate a championship at Dodger Stadium again. Machado was hitless in four atbats and struck out three times, including making the final out Sunday.

“Everybody will have their opinions on things,” Machado said. “The only thing that matters is these 25 guys in here.”

Seager is expected back next spring, while Machado is not. He will join Washington’s Bryce Harper as the biggest names on the freeagent market.

Roberts is expected to receive a longterm contract extension, having led the team to three straight NL West titles and two World Series appearances in his short tenure.

“My plan is to manage the Dodgers,” Roberts said. “Obviously, I understand my job is to ultimately lead us to a championship, and we haven’t accomplished that yet.”

He got booed during the Series, with fans expressing their annoyance about moves involving the bullpen and the team’s everchanging lineup that sometimes left its best homerun hitters benched.

“To say it was an unsuccessful season, I think that’s doing a disservice to everyone in that clubhouse,” Roberts said.