Dodgers news: Clayton Kershaw's 9-word reaction to Freddie Freeman

Now with Freddie Freeman in the fold, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw sees that the bar has once again been raised for the team.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been perennial World Series contenders for much of the past decade, and now with Freddie Freeman in the fold, starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw sees that the bar has once again been raised for the team.

“Obviously the expectations are higher now, but that’s fun,” Kershaw said at Dodgers spring training on Thursday.

The Dodgers came to terms with Freeman on a six-year, $162 million deal on Wednesday. Freeman had been linked with the Dodgers since the start of free agency, and after the likes of the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees halted their pursuit of the five-time All-Star, the NL West powerhouse hauled him in on a blockbuster multiyear deal.

For the Dodgers to sign a talent in the caliber of Freeman is not new to Kershaw. He has seen Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman continually bolster the lineup for years now, from trading for Mookie Betts to hauling in Trea Turner ahead of last year’s MLB trade deadline.

On paper, the Dodgers can be tabbed as the heavy favorites to go on and make a run to the World Series this season. Still, Kershaw does not believe that having a star-studded lineup will guarantee anything for the team.

“We have a position player lineup of All-Stars but that doesn't mean we’re going to win,” Kershaw said.

“We have to work on that [chemistry] and we will. We’ll be good at it.”

As it stands, Freeman is slated to take hold of the first base position for the Dodgers, although it can not be counted out that manager Dave Roberts could periodically roll him out as the team’s designated hitter over the course of the upcoming campaign. Veteran infielder Max Muncy is expected to now slide on over to the second base position, which he recently noted that he would not have a problem making such a move to accommodate for Freeman.

The Dodgers will kick off their spring training schedule against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday. For now, it remains to be seen on just when Freeman will don a Dodgers jersey for the first time in spring training.