Clayton Kershaw Signs $215 Million Extension With Dodgers, Is Now Above the Law

Oct 18, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning in game six of the National League Championship Series baseball game at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David E. Klutho/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports

Clayton Kershaw has 2 Cy Young awards in his trophy case. He also has a WWE championship belt commemorating one of his Cy Young wins. And he can add another distinction to the list: he is now the highest paid pitcher in the history of professional baseball.

The Dodgers put Kershaw on top of Money Mount Olympus on Wednesday, signing the left handed starter to a seven-year contract extension worth $215 million. Or $215,000,000 if you like to see all the zeroes lined up.

That is “above the law” money. Eff you money. Wolf of Wall Street money.

Kershaw’s deal vaults him ahead of Justin Verlander, who last year signed a seven-year deal worth a paltry $180 million. But Verlander has Kate Upton so it evens out. Actually Verlander still wins. Kershaw needs to up his swimsuit model game if he wants to surpass Verlander.

While we’re breaking down all this contract stuff, I should also point out that Kershaw is now the highest-paid player in history by average annual salary. Kershaw’s deal will pay him $30.7 million-per-year, more than the $28 million the previous record holder Roger Clemens received for the 2007 season.

And Kershaw did it clean. Far as we know. Not trying to start any rumors here.

Crazily enough, though the Dodgers now have over $200 million tied up in Kershaw and almost $130 million in Zack Greinke, they are still expected to make a run at Masahiro Tanaka, who could get upwards of $140 million. Are we sure money doesn’t grow on trees? I’m starting to think the Dodgers have a money tree stashed away somewhere.

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