December 14th, 2012 at 6:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka Back in the early 70’s the Eagles made an absolute fortune off of their platinum song ‘Peaceful Easy Feeling‘ – I know because I was a huge Eagles fan and had it in LP, 8-track, 4-track, cassette and eventually CD. But after last Tuesday’s press conference and in spite of the overwhelming confidence shared by everyone in attendance, I left the Dodger Stadium parking lot with anything but a peaceful easy feeling. In fact it was downright unpeaceful and uneasy.
Once the bright lights from all of the television media went dark, Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten generously took the time to meet with the written and blogging media for an interview (TV media trumps all, in case you were wondering). Kasten was still beaming with pride over the Dodgers signing of top free agent right-hander Zack Greinke and Korean left-handed phenom Hyun-jin Ryu – and rightfully so.
Kasten was more than happy to answer any question… except one. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
As has been well documented since the Ryu and Greinke press conferences, writers have pretty much “left no stone unturned” with regards to the two newest Dodger starters.
Well leave it to yours truly to unturn a huge stone that landed squarely on Kasten’s big toe – the Clayton Kershaw stone:
RC: “What’s the time frame on negotiating a contract extension with Clayton Kershaw?”
Kasten: “We’re focused right now on building this team going forward. Other issues are on the back burner.”
RC: “Do you hope to get it done at least by spring training?”
Kasten: “Not something I’m even going to discuss today, but thank you for the question.”
Loud and clear, Stan.
Even though Kershaw is under contract through 2013 and under team control through 2014, now would be a very good time to offer him a long-term contract extension – because he will never come any cheaper than he will right this second. (AP photo)
Maybe it’s just me and maybe I’m making a big deal over nothing at this stage of the game, but if this doesn’t give you even a slight unpeaceful and uneasy feeling, nothing will.
Posted in 
Not at all, Ron. There’s no reason for them to add more money to Clayton’s already healthy deal in 2013… considering that his hip may still be unhealthy. I’d want to know, going forward, if Clayton still has any lingering effects from his injury before committing six years at roughly 30 million a year. “Pitchers break”, I believe is the mantra these days.
Wise business choice if you ask me. No reason to say that Clayton won’t break the bank if he proves not to be broken in the first place.
Fear not. It shall be done.
I expect Clayton’s hip is a concern but I also expect Kasten is not going to negotiate through the press.
It seems to me that the baseball news changes every day. Every morning I wake up to a surprising trade or free agent signing. Things are a lot different than the day before.
That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if Kasten will be singing another song about Kershaw pretty soon.
Ron, Did any others in the press corps ask any follow up questions? The way I see it, this could mean a few things. 1) there is a concern that Kershaw may have some health issues and they don’t want to commit on him just yet. 2) perhaps the reason they have 8 starters now is because they know more about Kershaw’s health than they have indicated to the press. 3) they really are going to take a safe approach and see how things play out with Kershaw before shelling out over $200m on their ace. 4) you took Stan Kasten’s parking spot and he was pissed at you.
“Did any others in the press corps ask any follow up questions?”
Absolutely not, and this really surprised me; but it was crystal clear that my simple and blatantly honest question pissed Stan Kasten off – and one has to wonder why (as you have).
You would think that with everybody, Kasten included, saying that Greinke and Ryu were going to supplement their number one pitcher, Clayton Kershaw, that this question should have been on everyone’s mind, yet no one asked it or anything even remotely close to it.
Perhaps it is my newness and naivety to all of this, but I felt that my question was not only a valid and pertinent question, but it was also a very timely question. Yet the best that Kasten could say was a smug “…but thank you for the question.”
My answer would be 5) All of the above (although I did have to park quite a ways away from the door).
Assuming CK is healthy and that is still in question, I don’t think we’ll see him get a new contract until later in the season or even after the 2013 season ends.
Why all of the mystery and smoke and mirrors? Why couldn’t Stan Kasten have said what Ned Colletti said during an interview on ESPNLA 710?
What’s so difficult about saying something as simple as that, Stan? – And you’re welcome for that question.
MLB Net spoke with Ned after the press conference and he had a different take. I’m paraphrasing because I’m quoting from memory here but he basically said ‘That is a major priority but nothing will be done until after the first of the year. We will let the smoke clear from what we have done so far and then move forward but yes, it will be addressed.’
Is it a definitive answer? No. But at least it’s an answer. Luckily Zack and Clayton have the sane agent. Ned has his number.
From ESPNLA.com
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/story/_/id/8747944/not-spending-recklessly
Colletti said the team should have enough money left over to keep homegrown pitching star Clayton Kershaw, who will be a free agent after the 2014 season. Colletti hopes to sit down with Kershaw’s agent, who also represents Greinke, shortly after New Year’s Day.
Kershaw would hit free agency at age 26, three years before Greinke did. He won the 2011 Cy Young Award and finished second in the voting this season, plus he is left-handed, which adds to his value. There has been talk that Kershaw could be looking at a record deal for a pitcher that would exceed $200 million.
“I’m not worried about us being able to afford Clayton Kershaw. As long as the deal makes sense for us and is a baseball deal and it makes sense to him and his agents, then we’ll figure something out,” Colletti said.
Hats off to you Ron for asking that question. I am a very loyal person,(that’s why I could never work in a baseball front office) and I believe Kershaw should get paid more than Greinke. You have to take care of the guy who you drafted and devloped. I wish I could have seen you in action.
“Hats off to you Ron for asking that question.”
Thanks Evan.
I have to tell you that it is sometimes an awkward position to be in. As I mentioned above, I am relatively new to all of this stuff and the last thing that I want to do is piss anybody off.
But by the same token, I try not to be intimidated by them and try to ask questions that I know (or at least believe) that our readers really want to know about – such as the Kershaw question.
I am blessed and honored to be able to do what they allow me to do and I certainly hope that I never do anything to screw it up.