Dodgers: Five most untouchable players in trade talks

3) Clayton Kershaw

Revisit this list one year from now and Clayton Kershaw’s ranking could change. But with two full years remaining on his contract, it would be difficult for the Dodgers to get a fair return if they ever tried to trade their veteran ace. As a team looking to win their first championship since 1988, it doesn’t make any sense to trade their most reliable pitcher, postseason warts and all.

Kershaw is the type of starter, even at 32-years-old, who would demand a massive contract if he was on the open market. Stephen Strasburg signed a seven-year, $245 million deal with the Nationals this past offseason. He is only 122 days younger than Kershaw. If the 2020 season is played, the Dodgers get two more years of Kershaw’s services for $62 million before they need to decide whether his performance will continue past his mid-thirties.

With Hyun-Jin Ryu in Toronto, the Dodgers need Kershaw to maintain his position as a top-of-the-rotation starter, forming a nasty 1-2 punch with Walker Buehler, and hopefully a 1-2-3 punch that includes recently acquired David Price.

Pitching wins in the postseason. Kershaw has heard plenty of complaints about his legacy in October. The Houston Astros did their part in ruining what should have been his first championship run. He will try to lead the Dodgers to the promise land once again. He is as untouchable as they get.