National League Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw isn't going to be a free agent until at least after the 2014 season, so this isn't exactly a coup for the Dodgers, but the team does get some cost certainty by taking away one of the young left-hander's arbitration years. From Dylan Hernandez:
Clayton Kershaw has signed a two-year deal with the #Dodgers...Kershaw will receive a $500k signing bonus, $7.5 million salary in 2012, $11 million salary in 2013.
Kershaw led the National League in ERA and strikeouts last season (and wins, for those of you reading this on a Commodore 64), and he was certainly going to get a hefty raise from his $500,000 salary last season. This was Kershaw's first arbitration-eligible year, as he failed to qualify for super-two status last year.
One of my favorite pastimes after a signing like this is to go to the team's Facebook page and read all of the exasperated comments from people who don't understand how arbitration works. Check back later to read the hilarity!