Matt Kemp’s new Dodgers contract starts smaller, then gets bigger

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The Dodgers are announcing Friday that Matt Kemp’s eight-year, $160-million contract extension is official, and the way the deal is structured appears to make it a great deal for current ownership.

Kemp’s contract averages $20 million per season, but the Dodgers will pay him only half of that this season -- $10 million, of which $2 million is deferred.

The Silver Slugger Award-winning centerfielder, a top contender for the National League Most Valuable Player Award, is scheduled to appear today at a news conference at Dodger Stadium.

Here’s the payment schedule:

2012, $10 million, of which $2 million is deferred without interest; 2013, $20 million; 2014-15, $21 million per season; 2016-19, $21.5 million per season.

Kemp also received a $2-million signing bonus and agreed to donate $250,000 annually to the Dodgers Dream Foundation.

There does not appear to be a no-trade clause in the deal.

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-- Dylan Hernandez and Mike Hiserman