King Felix reportedly will sign a five-year contract extension with Seattle before Spring Training. Photo: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

While Seattle has pleased their fans by locking up King Felix long-term, the Dodgers will need to get down to their next order of business. Clayton Kershaw’s long-term contract needs to be a priority for the ownership. With a multi-billion dollar television deal in the works, the Dodgers will have no financial road blocks in their way. Like Scott has suggested, they could just hand over a blank check to Kershaw. Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander, and David Price now become the elite pitching bunch who will all potentially become free agents over the next two years. Many theorize that one of these stars may even break the $200 million contract threshold. If any player deserves that sort of exorbitant sum, it’s the left-handed wonder Clayton Kershaw.

8 years and $200 million. That has a nice ring to it. An even $25 million per year for Kersh sounds perfect.

The 24-year old Cy Young Award winner and philanthropist has a 61-37 career record with the Dodgers in his five seasons. He has a career ERA of 2.79, has struck out 974 batters in 944 innings, has a 2.86 SO/BB, a 9.3 SO/9, and a 1.137 WHIP. In 2012 Kershaw went 14-9 with a 2.53 ERA,  and 229 Ks in 33 starts. He finished second in the NL Cy Young Award voting behind winner R.A. Dickey, but he clearly put up worthy numbers. All this while battling a bout of the flu on Opening Day, a nagging case of plantar fasciitis, and a hip impingement.

Clayton Kershaw deserves the keys to Dodger Stadium. Photo: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

Clayton Kershaw is not only impressive on the mound, but he also is raising money to aid orphans in Zambia through his charity Kershaw’s Challenge. While $200 million seems like a incredibly high number, I feel great giving it to Kershaw, because I’m confident that he will be using some of that money to do good in the world. Kershaw is two years younger than Felix Hernandez, and I dare say better. According to the Los Angeles Times, Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers have a mutual interest in a contract extension.

Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw are the franchise players for the Dodgers, and there’s nothing that I want more than to see Clayton Kershaw pitch in the World Series. Kershaw is the Sandy Koufax of our generation. With the way that Major League contracts have been going of late which reflect the vitality of the sport, Clayton Kershaw’s paycheck should reflect his killer curve.

After the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off a blockbuster trade that included top notch first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, and pitcher Josh Beckett, the Dodgers have still struggled in many areas including the bullpen. In a game against the Colorado Rockies, the bullpen gave up seven unearned runs which was absolutely pathetic.

With Chad Billingsley now being shut down for the year, and sound closer Kenley Jansen on verge of also being shut down due to a heart condition, the Dodgers are in serious jeopardy of missing the playoffs this year. With the moves made on the hitting side, are the Dodgers just an arm away from capturing that World Series title? A title hasn’t been seen in Los Angeles since 1988.
My answer would be yes, and the type of arm they need would be Cliff Lee from the Phillies, remember they claimed Lee off of waivers a month ago but were unable to close the deal. Another name that could surface could be Felix Hernandez, he has two years remaining on his deal, and highly doubt he’ll resign long term with the Seattle Mariners.

With new ownership in place for the Dodgers, this group is committed to winning and the only owners I’d trust to pull off a move of this magnitude in the off-season for one of these stellar pitchers.

As I’ve stated before this team has to gel, and its going to take time for all of them to get on the same page. Next season will definitely be much better, a healthy Matt Kemp, Andre Either, Adrian Gonzalez, hopefully a healthy Carl Crawford whom I think is still a bum until he proves otherwise. Along with solid pitching staff, can you imagine having Clayton Kershaw, healthy Chad Billingsley, Chris Capuano, and either Felix Hernandez or Cliff Lee in that rotation, wow.

Can you see a parade around Dodger Stadium in 2013, along with Dodger blue fans lining the streets of downtown Los Angeles? I sure can, and see the proper steps to making this city a Dodger town again. Well at least be a respectable team in Los Angeles with the Lakers, Kings and Galaxy.

Here’s a hint for Billingsley, go to Germany and see the same doctor that Kobe Bryant, Grant Hill and other saw for their injuries if you want to have a spectacular season in 2013.