Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw Earns $16M Bonus Money from Contract Incentives

Los Angeles Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw had $8.5 million worth of incentives written into the one-year, $7.5 million deal he signed with the team over the offseason. He was set to earn $1 million for each of his 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th starts of the season, along with $2.5 million for being active 30 days and another $1 million each for 60 and 90 days active.

As Bob Nightengale of USA Today noted, Kershaw officially hit all of those benchmarks with his start on Thursday, bringing his total earnings for the 2025 season to $16 million.

The Dodgers' legend has gone 8-2 in his 16 starts this season, posting a 3.13 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 52 strikeouts in 83.1 innings.

The 37-year-old is no longer the ace that won an MVP and three Cy Young awards in his prime, but for a Dodgers' team that has dealt with extensive injuries to its pitching staff this season, his production has been invaluable.