MRKH was ist das? » Will Clayton Kershaw opt out of the final two years

The biggest question of the offseason is a two-parter.1.and $65 million of his contract?2. If he does opt out http://www.raysfanproshop.com/authentic-evan-longoria-jersey , will he consider signing elsewhere, or will it just be to get more years from the Dodgers?He did little to put Dodgers fans minds at ease with his recent comments."I would be lying if I said it didn't cross my mind," Kershaw told reporters when asked if he had thought at all about how he may have made his last home start at Dodger Stadium.The chances are he'll opt out, as the security that comes with adding a few years' worth of guaranteed money will be too appealing to pass up.It's hard to envision the free-spending Dodgers letting their homegrown star get away, but there's always the possibility that someone makes him an offer he can't refuse.Another postseason that doesn't end in a World Series title could also convince the 30-year-old that his best chance of winning atitle may be elsewhere.We shall see.Prediction:Kershaw opts out, re-signs on a five-year, $175 million deal with the Dodgers.Patrick CorbinMatthew Stockman/Getty ImagesIt's been a breakout season for Patrick Corbin.An All-Star for the second time in his career, he's gone 11-7 with a 3.23 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 242 strikeouts (3rd in NL) in 195 innings for 4.4 WAR.The 29-year-old picked the perfect time for a career year. A case can be made he's the top starting pitching option on the market if Kershaw decides to stay put.So which team is the early favorite to sign him?As a Syracuse native, Corbin grew up a Yankees fan, and it sounds like he's open to the idea of donning pinstripes."It would definitely be great to play there http://www.rangersfanproshop.com/authentic-matt-moore-jersey ," Corbin told Bob Nightengale of USA Today. "I grew up a Yankee fan. My whole family are Yankee fans. My mom, my dad, my grandpa, everybody. Really, every generation of my family has been Yankee fans.I know the Yankees have had some interest in the past, and there were a lot of rumors this winter that got my family excited. It would have been cool."With J.A. Happ, CC Sabathia and Lance Lynn all headed for free agency, the Yankees have a clear need in the rotation. It stands to reason that bolstering the starting staff will trump making a run at someone like Bryce Harper or Manny Machado.Prediction:Corbin signs a four-year, $72 million deal with the Yankees. Charlie MortonStephen Brashear/Getty ImagesIf there's any player this year who might consider accepting a qualifying offer, it's Charlie Morton.The 34-year-old has become a different pitcher since joining the Houston Astros last season, going a combined 29-10 with a 3.39 ERA Ivan Rodriguez Jersey , 1.18 WHIP and 360 strikeouts in 310.2 innings for 5.0 WAR.He's earning just $7 million this season and has earned roughly $40.7 million over the course of his career, according to Spotrac.Morton has hinted at potentially retiring at the end of the 2018 season in the past. The chance to return for one more year and earn what figures to be a salary north of $18 million by accepting a qualifying offer could be too tempting to turn down.His decision on the future could also impact the market for Dallas Keuchel.If Morton does return, the Astros might be more inclined to let Keuchel walk in free agency. Losing both standout starters would be a tough pill to swallow for the defending champs, though.Prediction:Morton accepts a qualifying offer and returns for one more year.All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, unless otherwise noted. April is just over a week old, and already Whit Merrifield is more than halfway to matching Joe DiMaggio’s famous hitting streak.That’s because Merrifield’s run began toward the end of last season — so long ago that it doesn’t totally resonate.“I didn’t even know I had a streak going until the offseason when someone told me I finished on 20 games,” Merrifield said Sunday. “I was concerned with getting all the hits, and leading the league in hits.”Merrifield indeed led the major leagues in hits last year, and on Monday, the Kansas City infielder extended his hitting streak to 29 games. If that number keeps rising, there will probably be plenty of chatter about whether his carried-over streak is comparable to one that starts and finishes in the same season. DiMaggio’s 56-game mark isn’t exactly in jeopardy at the moment http://www.rangersfanproshop.com/authentic-matt-moore-jersey , but Merrifield needs only one more game to tie George Brett’s franchise record.“As part of my routine goes, nothing changes. I’d be lying if I said you don’t think about it,” Merrifield said. “You try to stay with your approach as best you can. Hopefully you get a hit your first at-bat, so you can relax the rest of the game, and play your game. To say I’m not thinking about it would be a lie.”Brett’s 30-game streak came in 1980, the same year he hit .390 and won AL MVP honors. The Royals went to the World Series that season.Expectations are considerably lower this year for Kansas City, but the 30-year-old Merrifield is a bright spot. In a sport gravitating toward home runs and strikeouts, he fits in with the Royals, who are trying to take a step forward by building around speed. Merrifield stole 45 bases in 2018.A long hitting streak can turn into a major story once it reaches about 30 games. There hasn’t been a 30-gamer since Freddie Freeman’s in 2016. Merrifield’s run remains under the radar, probably because the 2019 portion is only a nine-game streak. It’s still a point of pride, though.“It’s cool. I mean Prince Fielder Jersey , it’s an accolade that I can hang my hat on, but I’d like to keep going,” he said.HITLESSAt the opposite end of the spectrum, Baltimore’s Chris Davis is dealing with a different kind of streak — which also dates to last season. Davis, who hit 53 home runs in 2013 and 38 as recently as 2016, is 0 for 28 this year with 15 strikeouts. He’s set a record for a position player by going 49 at-bats without a hit, since a double against the Chicago White Sox on Sept. 14.That was the same day Merrifield’s hitting streak reached game five.HIGHLIGHTBryce Harper’s return to Washington was an emotionally charged evening that included plenty of hostility from fans of his former team. Then the new star of the Philadelphia Phillies struck back, homering to the second deck in his final at-bat. Philadelphia won 8-2 on Tuesday night.LINE OF THE WEEKGary Sánchez hit three home runs for the New York Yankees in Sunday’s 15-3 victory at Baltimore. Sánchez did all that in just nine pitches. He already has six homers on the year after finishing last season with a fairly pedestrian 18.