Kershaw, Mattingly Both Discussing Contracts

Unnamed sources with the Dodgers are pretty busy lately. First and most importantly, the Dodgers are finally trying to wrap up the Clayton Kershaw long-term deal:

The Los Angeles Dodgers offered left-hander Clayton Kershaw essentially a lifetime contract in the range of $300 million -- "an A-Rod deal" -- earlier this season, according to a source with knowledge of its scope and structure.

The two sides were unable to finish negotiations, sources say, because Kershaw was initially uncertain about committing to a deal so encompassing, and about having contract talks during the season.

But the negotiations progressed enough that there is confidence among some with knowledge of the talks that a long-term deal -- perhaps more conservative in length than the massive contract initially proposed by the Dodgers -- will be concluded this winter, with a significant portion of money being devoted to a charity of Kershaw's choosing.

Alex Rodriguez's current contract with the New York Yankees is the largest in baseball, a 10-year, $275 million deal that could reach $305 million if he achieves all of its incentives.

Kershaw's potential contract is expected to be the largest ever for a pitcher.

I'm all for the Kershaw long-term deal; I'm just sorry that he has to be mentioned in the same breath as A-Fraud.

Meanwhile, unnamed sources (which may or may not be the same as the aforementioned unnamed sources) have Don Mattingly's contract extended for at least the 2014 season:

ST. LOUIS -- The Los Angeles Dodgers did not announce the fate of manager Don Mattingly following Friday's season-ending, 9-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series, but a club source affirmed that Mattingly will be back for at least one more season.

Dodgers president Stan Kasten and general manager Ned Colletti said they will meet with Mattingly in the next few days to try to iron something out.

The Dodgers have a 2014 option on Mattingly's contract that would need to be picked up at some point in November, but it's believed they've also talked to his agent about a multiyear extension.

Not sure how I feel about this given the number of times I found Mattingly's managerial decisions crazy (most recently of which was NLDS Game 4, using Ronald Belisario to "preserve" a tightrope game and short-rest start by Kershaw--which luckily worked out in the end). But I suppose Donnie Baseball deserves credit for the 42-8 run and the team's Lazarus-like advancement to the playoffs (the first time in Mattingly's tenure). Let's shoot for 45-5 next year, coach!