Clayton Kershaw Salary: LA Dodgers Star Is 7th Highest Paid Pitcher In MLB

Clayton Kershaw, the starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, is only the 7th highest paid pitcher in MLB this season.

Kershaw is making $31 million this year, per Spotrac. The throne of highest paid starting pitcher in the league belongs to Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees with a $36 million annual salary. Cole is followed by Max Scherzer’s $35.9 million, Stephen Strasburg and Zack Greinke’s $35 million, Justin Verlander’s $33 million and David Price’s $33 million.

Curiously, Kershaw is not even the highest paid pitcher in the team but Price is not playing in the World Series as he opted out of joining the league due to COVID-19 concerns. Now, it was Kershaw’s time to shine and he delivered. Up against Tampa Bay Rays’ Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell, the 32-year-old showed the class that makes him a future Hall of Famer.

According to CBS Sports, no one from the Rays was able to solve the opposing pitcher’s puzzle aside from the lone homer from Kevin Kiermaier. In total, Kershaw retired 13 straight from Tampa Bay. Experts predict that if the masterclass displayed by the 13-year-veteran is maintained throughout the series, the Dodgers are sure to take home another title.

The Dallas, Texas native throws left handed but bats right handed. He earned a reputation while still in high school as one of the most promising players in the U.S. after winning the Gatorade National Player of the Year and High School Baseball Player of the Year given by USA Today, a report from Celebrity Net Worth revealed.

He was drafted in 2008 by the Dodgers and played all his career in L.A. Kershaw virtually won every major award as a pro, which is a testament to his skillset. He was named an All-Star three times, a National League Cy Young Award winner twice and the NL Strikeout Champion two times. Moreover, he added the Triple Crown and Gold Glove Award to his list of achievements in 2011.

A part of his massive net worth, which is around $60 million, goes to helping the less privileged. Kershaw collaborated with Hope's Home to help the orphans in Zambia.

In his career, it is estimated that Kershaw earned a total of $228 million, including $43.8 million total signing bonus. In 2021, the Dodgers are set to pay their starting pitcher $31 million and Kershaw can enter the free agent market in 2022, per Spotrac. Should the Dodgers win it all behind Kershaw’s performance, he can expect a more lucrative deal soon from his team.