On Sunday, November 10th, the MLB set the deadline for qualifying offers. Players like Brandon Belt, Michael Conforto, and Trevor Story have all received qualifying offers from their respective teams for the 2022 MLB season. A qualifying offer is a standard $18.4 million, one-year deal that is usually offered to a player when a team can’t afford to pay them more, or the player isn’t worth too much. This can give players like Marcus Stroman, the chance to prove why they need more money. The 3-time Cy Young award winner, Clayton Kershaw was not given a QO this past week. His teammates Chris Taylor and Corey Seager were both offered to come back and play for the Dodgers in 2022 under a qualifying offer contract. Doing so will allow the Dodgers to receive compensation draft picks if they choose to sign with another team. The 33-year MLB veteran has had injury struggles between his back, forearm, and bicep from the past 6 years. This is probably why LA has not resigned him just yet. The Dodgers president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman stated, “We’ve made it very clear that if Kershaw wants to come back, he will always have a spot”. Does this actually mean Kershaw will receive an offer going into the 2022 season? The LA Times have said that Kershaw should retire, and he is done for his career. The Athletic thinks the Rangers should pursue him. Texas still must decide if they will resign Jordan Lyles or Mike Foltynewicz back to their rotation. If Kershaw signs with them, I could only imagine that it would be a 3–4-year deal. Texas may or may not have learned when they signed Corey Kluber in 2020. He gave them one inning of work, then became a great pitcher again this past season in the Bronx. Does Kershaw try to stay with the Dodgers? Will he jump ship to the other side of LA and help the dreading Angels fans who want to see Mike Trout have some backup? Will he become the ace of the Rangers and stay in the spotlight like Zack Greinke, or will he fall down hard like his former Freeway Series counterpart, Madison Bumgarner? Whatever choice he makes, we are waiting to see where the 8-time all-star decides to call home for 2022.
SPORTS ARE OUR UNIVERSE
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