MLB

Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers agree on 7-year, $215 million deal

A person familiar with the deal says pitcher Clayton Kershaw has agreed to a $215 million, seven-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a deal that makes the two-time Cy Young Award winner baseball’s first player with a $30 million average salary.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the agreement had not yet been announced.

Kershaw receives the most lucrative deal for a pitcher, breaking the mark of $180 million set by Justin Verlander last March for his seven-year contract with Detroit.

The average salary of $30.7 million tops the previous high of $27.5 million, set by the Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez as part of a 10-year agreement December 2007. While Roger Clemens had a contract with a listed salary of $28 million with the Yankees in 2007, he joined the team in June and actually made $17.4 million.

Kershaw’s agreement was first reported by ESPN.com.

Highest average-value contracts in baseball history

Clayton Kershaw, LAD (2014-20): $30,714,286
*Roger Clemens, NYY (2007): $28,000,022
Alex Rodriguez, NYY (2008-17): $27,500,000
Alex Rodriguez, Tex-NYY (2001-10): $25,200,000
Justin Verlander, Det (2013-19): $25,714,286
Ryan Howard, Phi (2012-16): $25,000,000
Josh Hamilton LAA (2013-17): $25,000,000
Felix Hernandez, Sea (2013-19): $25,000,000

* joined club in June and received prorated salary of $17,442,637