Analysis: Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw agree to seven-year, $215-million contract

Seven years is an awfully long time to sign a pitcher but if anybody's worth it, it has to be Clayton Kershaw.  

The Dodgers avoid the horrific thought of losing the best pitcher in baseball to a rival in addition to trying to replace his innings. His excellent, voluminous innings. 

The opt-out after five years means Clayton Kershaw can enter free agency at 30- the average age of most free agents league-wide. Instead of being an average free agent, he'll be a filthy rich pitcher with no fewer than two Cy Young awards to his name. 

| theScore - Why the Dodgers should happily break the bank to lock up Clayton Kershaw forever | 

As stated earlier today, Clayton Kershaw is exactly the type of pitcher worth gambling on with a record-setting deal. $30 million a year is an unfathomable amount of money but Clayton Kershaw's achievements on the mound are pretty difficult to fathom in their own right. 

Overpay? In what crazy world is the richest team locking up the best pitcher for at least five years an overpay? It is the perfect situation for both player and team - two sides pretty happy with today's agreement.