LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers fans were beginning to worry, which, under the circumstances, was pretty much the reasonable course of action.It had, after all, been about a year since the team and the best pitcher in baseball began discussing a contract extension. The sides couldn't lock up a deal during spring training, the deadline Clayton Kershaw first set.By late summer, reports started cropping up that Kershaw had walked away from a couple of record-breaking offers.