After more than two years of speculation and a week of extreme anxiety for Dodger fans, 30-year-old Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw has agreed to remain in Dodger Blue, at least for the next three seasons and perhaps for the remainder of his Hall of Fame-worthy career.

Just minutes after the 1:00 p.m. PT deadline, is was widely reported that the Dallas, Texas native and Dodgers 2006 first round draft pick out of Highland Park High School in University Park, Texas waived his opt-out clause with the Dodgers, agreeing to a three-year contract that guarantees him $93 million. The contract also includes performance bonuses but does not, I repeat, does not include an opt-out clause.

Although Kershaw himself recently admitted that he isn’t the 97-MPH fireballing ace that he once was, he told reporters that he plans to work extremely hard this off-season to try to increase his fastball velocity from the 94-MPH(ish) velocity that he topped out during the 2018 regular season, during which he posted a 9-5 record and very impressive 2.73 ERA. He also struck out 155 while walking only 29 in his 26 regular season starts and 161.1 innings pitched.

Rest easy, Dodger fans…