I had sad, in the "you be gm" thread that I'd give him 3 years $40M, so this works for me. Nice work.
Here's the LAT article - same info just spread out a bit: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dodgers/2012/02/dodgers-sign-clayton-kershaw.html They add the tally:
Undeniably true...but along with those happy campers, in spite of the extreme super hero stuff from CK and MK, (who desreved every bit of what they got), are some of the same people who played last year. It's the guys like Uribe and these new SPs that will make the difference...and of course Ethier, along with the always unknown offensive output of James "White Powder Ma" Loney. DBB looked as if he was getting his shyte together at season's end, I think we'll all agree. As long as it wasn't a fluke, then maybe we do a little something. If we don't, now we have the huge, jiggling, man-boobed behemoth sprinting in a top speed late in the game to lighten our moods. How 'bout that Ned? P.T. Barnum reincarnate, I say. Knows how to put on a show.
Well I'm sure guys like Uribe (3 yr/$21,000,000) and Harang (2 yr/$12,000,000) are happy campers, wouldn't you be? But definitely good to have Kershaw signed for 2 years to avoid having to go through arbitration again next year.
Of course I would be happy with that kind of money. My post was more about having a camp that was without nasty feelings about arbitration or not locking up guys like Kersh/Kemp would be alot better than the alternative. They can just play ball and and try and win something this season.
Food for thought about Kershaw and signing him beyond his new two year deal. His agents are smart and they know that concurrent with his final year of team control and first year of free agency is the expiration of and beginning of the Dodgers new media contract. By that time a number of teams will be signing new media contracts and the current contract parameters for a pitcher like Kershaw could increase considerably. That was smart by his agency to only sign him for two years. The Dodgers in 2015 could have a mega yearly amount from a media contract available for payroll.
I have to agree that while Kershaw deserved a longer deal this might have been a really good thing for him to go for two years and then play hardball later when more money is sitting on the plate...
