Los Angeles Dodgers: Five teams that could snag Clayton Kershaw

5. Seattle Mariners

• Current 2019 payroll: $131 million

The Seattle Mariners start us off as the team with the least likely odds to land Kershaw on this list but could realistically make a running for the southpaw if the team is all-in on winning this season. While the Mariners have a good bullpen and some good arms in the starting rotation, the rotation would benefit from a frontline ace like Kershaw.

The starting rotation next season will likely consist of James Paxton, Mike Leake, Marco Gonzales, Wade LeBlanc and Felix Hernandez. Sub Kershaw in for LeBlanc or even put Kershaw in for King Felix and move him to the ‘pen and it would be quite the starting rotation.

There would be some internal concerns in adding Kershaw to a long-term deal simply due to the implications it could have in the future. Robinson Cano is still on the books for another five seasons at $24 million a year. If this does not pan out, the Mariners could be in serious trouble in three or four years.

Plus, it is not like the Mariners have a ton of space to sign Kershaw, although the team does have room. With a current payroll of $131 million, per Spotrac, the Mariners have the fifth-largest payroll in baseball; right behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have a $133 million payroll.

Kershaw has two career starts at Safeco Field, throwing a combined 14 innings and allowing four earned runs while striking out 19.