Kershaw and family assessing future, Dodgers 'will always have a spot' for him

Clayton Kershaw is heading for free agency without having to worry about draft-pick compensation since the Los Angeles Dodgers did not tender him a one-year, $18.4-million qualifying offer.

Team president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman explained why the Dodgers opted against using the qualifying offer on the three-time Cy Young winner despite wanting the ace back.

"We've made it very clear that if (Kershaw) wants to come back, he will always have a spot with what he’s meant to this organization," Friedman said Wednesday, according to The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya. "Not just looking back but with what we think he can do for us next year."

Friedman also indicated Kershaw is looking into what’s best for him and his family, and the club didn’t want to add any pressure to that decision with the qualifying offer, which comes with a 10-day deadline to accept or decline.

"I know he wants to take a little time with Ellen and figure out what's best for them and also, more importantly, get to a point where he feels good health-wise," Friedman continued, according to Ardaya. "We have no reason to believe that he won't ... This would've accelerated the timeline.

"I think just with our respect for him and for what he's done for this organization, that wasn't something that we wanted to do and put him on that kind of clock when he wasn't ready for it."

The eight-time All-Star is coming off a decent but shortened campaign after ominous-sounding left forearm discomfort left him on the injured list. Kershaw, who spent time on the IL from mid-July to mid-September with left elbow inflammation, authored a 3.55 ERA and 3.00 FIP over 121 2/3 innings.

The 2014 Triple Crown winner and MVP has spent his entire 14-year career with Los Angeles, owning a 2.49 ERA and 2.77 FIP over 2,454 2/3 innings through 379 appearances (376 starts).

While Kershaw did not get a qualifying offer, the Dodgers did tender one to pending free agents Corey Seager and Chris Taylor. Both players have until Nov. 17 to accept or decline. L.A. will earn draft-pick compensation if they sign elsewhere.