Dodgers Quick Hits: David Freese, Clayton Kershaw, Free Agency

The Dodgers were expected to make a decision on David Freese and get a decision from Clayton Kershaw, but those timelines were pushed back two days.

By the time the clock struck 9 PM PST last night, the Dodgers were supposed to figure out the futures of David Freese and Clayton Kershaw.  Instead, the two times lines were pushed back.  The new deadline is Friday at 1 PM PST.  The Dodgers front office is supposed to hold their end of the season press conference today so they are sure to be asked about both.

For David Freese, he lived up to his expectations of being a playoff hero.  He homered in both the World Series and NLCS and was one of the few Dodger hitters who did not have a bad World Series.  Freese’s club option is worth six million dollars, so the Dodgers would be wise to give Freese that type of money.

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• With the deadline to pick up David Freese’s option extended, it’s more likely than not that the Dodgers are working on a new deal for the 35 year-old infielder.  Not only is David Freese a clutch playoff performer, he is one of the elder statesman of the Dodger locker room now that Chase Utley is retired.  The Dodgers should sign Freese to a two year deal worth about ten million dollars. That would be fair to both sides.
• The Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw also continue to work on a solution to Kershaw’s ability to opt out.  Kershaw is due almost 70 million dollars over the next two seasons so it’s still doubtful that he actually opts out.  Instead it would be the best outcome for both sides if two more seasons were tacked on to the end of Clayton’s current deal.  This would give Kershaw more years while not taking on too much risk for the Dodgers.
• With free agency almost officially underway for teams to negotiate with players who weren’t on their team this season, the Dodgers are set to lose Hyun-Jin Ryu, Yasmani Grandal, Brian Dozier, Manny Machado, Ryan Madson, Daniel Hudson, and John Axford.  Grandal is likely to be given the qualifying offer so that the Dodgers can get draft pick compensation if he departs.

• Manny Machado made an interesting Instagram post on Wednesday that looked like a farewell to the Dodgers.  Manny expressed gratitude for how the Dodgers took him in and stated that the Dodgers will win a World Series soon with the roster that they have.  With Corey Seager’s imminent return, there is no obvious fit for Manny Machado.