The Los Angeles Dodgers were close to signing Clayton Kershaw to a seven-year, $210 million contract extension earlier this season, according to sources.

However, the Dodgers backed off and the two sides have not negotiated in months.

Kershaw is nearing the end of a two-year, $19 million deal and the Dodgers remain motivated to get something completed.

The average salary of approximately $30 million would have been the highest in baseball history.