LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw is a free agent.

The veteran did not exercise the player option for 2025 in his Dodgers contract, technically making him a free agent. Asked about his plans after the World Series victory parade on Friday, the future Hall of Famer would not say what he planned to do about the player option but made it clear he wants to be back with the Dodgers in 2025.

“I don’t know (how that will play out),” he said. “I’ll be back, somehow. I don’t care. I’ll be back.”

By declining the player option, Kershaw gives himself more flexibility in negotiating a new contract for 2025 with the Dodgers. The option would have guaranteed Kershaw a $5 million base salary with the potential for $15 million more in bonuses based on how much he is able to pitch next season.

Kershaw announced that he will have two surgeries this week — a minor procedure to repair meniscus damage in his left knee and a more complicated procedure to address the chronic problems in the big toe on his left foot.

Kershaw said he didn’t know a timeline for his rehab from those surgeries. It is entirely probable that he will not be ready to start the season on time and a new contract could be worked out with new bonuses reflecting that.

Declining the option also gives the three-time Cy Young Award winner as much time as he wants before locking in to a new contract.

In other contract news, the Dodgers exercised the club options they held on two role players — Miguel Rojas and backup catcher Austin Barnes.

Rojas, 35, will make $5 million in 2025. He has said he expects to have sports hernia surgery this offseason but he plans to have it early enough in the offseason to be at full strength for spring training.

Barnes signed a two-year contract extension in July 2022 that paid him $3.5 million in 2023 and 2024. It contained a club option for another season at $3.5 million, which the Dodgers exercised.

The 34-year-old Barnes will be playing his 11th season with the Dodgers. Among current players, only Kershaw has been with the team longer.

Teoscar Hernandez gets offer, Buehler doesn’t

The Dodgers made the qualifying offer to free agent outfielder Teoscar Hernandez but not to pitcher Walker Buehler.

The qualifying offer for 2025 is a one-year, $21 million contract. Hernandez is not likely to accept the qualifying offer. He made more last season on his one-year deal with the Dodgers and enjoyed an All-Star-caliber season that is certain to draw multi-year offers for higher salaries.

The Dodgers can still sign Hernandez whether he accepts the qualifying offer or not. If he signs with another team, the Dodgers would receive draft pick compensation.

Buehler, meanwhile, was a surprising choice not to be tendered a qualifying offer. If offered and accepted, it would represent a significant raise from the $8.25 million he made in 2024 despite his poor regular-season results (a 1-6 record and 5.38 ERA) after returning from Tommy John surgery. But it would have recognized his outstanding postseason performance and given him a year to re-establish his value before re-entering the free agent market at age 31.