Los Angeles Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw's Two-Year Extension Is Just the Beginning

Take a moment and picture this: A 26-year-old Clayton Kershaw takes the mound in Game 1 of the World Series. The 6-foot-3 lefty looks in at his catcher, prepared to throw the first pitch of the game, while surrounded by thousands of Phillies fans...cheering for him.

Sounds atrocious, I'm sure. But if Kershaw is allowed to hit free agency in 2014, "The entire landscape of baseball would be all over Kershaw as a free agent," says Buster Olney, who believes the Dodgers should offer Kershaw something akin to a five-year, $100 to 120 million deal to lock him up, as stated in his video blog. 

Olney is absolutely correct. By 2014, Philly could be without Cole Hamels, who is a free agent next year, and Roy Halladay, who has a vesting option for 2014. The Red Sox could be without Josh Beckett and Jon Lester. And the Yankees? Well, the Yankees are always in on every major free agent.

Kershaw has only had the first two years of his arbitration eligibility eaten up in the two-year deal he signed worth $19 million. Once again he'll be arbitration eligible in 2014 and a free agent at the end of that season.

The Dodgers' front office should take a note and look to San Francisco and see how they've handled Tim Lincecum. Lincecum is going to earn $18 million in 2012 and $22 million in 2013. Over the last two seasons, Lincecum has won 29 games, while losing 24 for the Giants. Meanwhile, Kershaw has won 34 games and only lost 15 for the Dodgers.

In short, the wisest thing the team could do is talk about a five- to six-year deal with Kershaw in the $110 to 120 million range, as Olney suggested. To roll the dice otherwise is a gamble this rebuilding franchise cannot afford to do.