Kershaw established himself as the franchise ace for the Dodgers in 2014, when he signed a seven-year, $215 million deal. He then took a three-year contract to stay in 2018 and has agreed to one- or two-year pacts since then.

Clayton Kershaw is close, real close to becoming just the 20th 3,000-strikeout pitcher ever, but things get complicated for more history in a hurry after that.