The Los Angeles Dodgers are doing what good teams almost always
do: they identify their core guys and then they keep them happy.
They simply never give those players a reason to leave. Have you
noticed that most of the best players never reach free agency
anymore?  And so, according to a source, the Dodgers have signed
baseball's best pitcher to a seven-year, $215 million contract
that is the biggest for any hurler in history. This is a smart
deal on an assortment of levels.  It's about winning on the
field and at the box office. It's about sending a message that
this franchise takes care of its own.  First, though, let's take
a refresher course on why Clayton Kershaw is so special. Despite
being just 25, he has led the National League in ERA for three
straight seasons and in strikeouts two of the past three. He has
averaged 225 innings and 230 strikeouts the last four seasons
and posted a 2.37 ERA over that time. He has a blazing fastball,
pinpoint control and quality secondary pitches.  No other
pitcher has