MLB Rumors: Clayton Kershaw opt-out extended to Friday

MLB Rumors: Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to extend the deadline for Kershaw to exercise the opt-out clause in his current contract to Friday, per multiple reports. Kershaw has two years, $64 million remaining on his current deal, and was originally supposed to make the decision by today.

While Kershaw was widely expected to exercise the opt out coming into this season, an injury-plagued campaign where he was really good, rather than elite, made that less certain. The fact that the team and Kershaw have agreed to extend the deadline suggests that Kershaw is at least contemplating using the opt out, and it appears the team and Kershaw may be negotiating a new deal.

The Rangers have supposedly lusted after Kershaw for some time, and even with his injuries and declining stuff, were he to hit the market, one would expect Texas to pursue him. This development, however, seems to make it less likely he will actually become a free agent. If he does re-up with the Dodgers, it will be a blow to what was once expected to be the greatest free agent class ever. Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are still special talents in their mid-20s and are headlining the class, but after that, the options drop off significantly.