Clayton Kershaw declines 2025 player option with Dodgers, becomes a free agent

LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw is a free agent.

The veteran did not exercise the player option for 2025 in his Dodgers contract, technically making him a free agent. Asked about his plans after the World Series victory parade on Friday, the future Hall of Famer would not say what he planned to do about the player option but made it clear he wants to be back with the Dodgers in 2025.

“I don’t know (how that will play out),” he said. “I’ll be back, somehow. I don’t care. I’ll be back.”

By declining the player option, Kershaw gives himself more flexibility in negotiating a new contract for 2025 with the Dodgers. The option would have guaranteed Kershaw a $5 million base salary with the potential for $15 million more in bonuses based on how much he is able to pitch next season.

Kershaw announced that he will have two surgeries this week – a minor procedure to repair meniscus damage in his left knee and a more complicated procedure to address the chronic problems in the big toe on his left foot.

Kershaw said he didn’t know a timeline for his rehab from those surgeries. It is entirely probable that he will not be ready to start the season on time and a new contract could be worked out with new bonuses reflecting that.

Declining the option also gives the three-time Cy Young Award winner as much time as he wants before locking in to a new contract. It also frees up a spot on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster until he is ready to sign.

In other contract news, the Dodgers exercised the club options they held on two role players – shortstop Miguel Rojas and backup catcher Austin Barnes.

Rojas, 35, will make $5 million in 2025. He has said he expects to have sports hernia surgery this offseason but he plans to have it early enough in the offseason to be at full strength for spring training.

Barnes signed a two-year contract extension in July 2022 that paid him $3.5 million in 2023 and 2024. It contained a club option for another season at $3.5 million, which the Dodgers exercised.

The 34-year-old Barnes will be playing his 11th season with the Dodgers. Among current players, only Kershaw has been with the team longer.