In January 2014, Clayton Kershaw locked in a deal that cemented his place among the highest-paid pitchers in baseball history: 7 years and $215 million guaranteed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was the first pitcher contract to average $30.7 million per season — a benchmark that shifted the entire market at the time. The deal came on the heels of Kershaw winning the Cy Young in 2011, 2013, and 2014, leaving little doubt he was the best starter in the game.
His Biggest Contract at a Glance
- Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
- Signed: January 15, 2014
- Length: 7 years (2014–2020)
- Total guaranteed value: $215 million
- Average annual value: $30.7 million
- No-trade clause: Yes
How the Contract Was Built
The structure was straightforward but the number was historic: no pitcher had ever signed at that average annual value before. The Dodgers were making a clear statement — they were willing to pay elite money to keep their best weapon anchored in the rotation for the better part of a decade. This wasn’t just a contract; it was a declaration that Kershaw was the standard.
The Fine Print
Kershaw included an opt-out clause after the 2018 season, giving him the right to walk away from the remaining years if he chose. He exercised it — and then re-signed with Los Angeles anyway, negotiating a 3-year, $93 million extension covering 2019–2021. The original deal also carried a full no-trade clause, meaning the Dodgers couldn’t move him without his consent. As with all MLB contracts, the money was 100% guaranteed regardless of injury or performance.
Where Kershaw Ranks All-Time
- #30 — Largest contracts in MLB history by total guaranteed value
- #7 — Among pitchers only
- #8 — Most career earnings in MLB history
Rankings based on total guaranteed value, not including deferred money. Data from Spotrac and Baseball-Reference as of August 11, 2026.
The Contracts Before the Megadeal
- 2012–2013: $19 million via salary arbitration with the Dodgers
- 2019–2021: $93 million extension after opting out of the 2014 deal
Those 2012–2013 arbitration years were the launching pad. Kershaw was already stacking Cy Youngs and establishing himself as the face of a franchise trying to get back to the top. The 2014 contract was the formal recognition of everything he’d built.
What Kershaw Earned Over His Career
Across his 18 seasons with the Dodgers — before announcing his retirement after the 2025 season — Kershaw collected $315 million in actual MLB salary (base salary plus signing and earned bonuses). Adding up all guaranteed money across every contract he signed, the total reaches $327 million. Those figures cover MLB earnings only and do not include endorsements or any outside income.
