Read More: James Loney (1B – LOS), Andre Ethier (RF – LOS), Hong-Chih Kuo (P – LOS), Clayton Kershaw (P – LOS), Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night non-tendered relief pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo, making the dean of the Dodgers a free agent. On the deadline day to tender 2012 contracts to all unsigned players, the Dodgers did tender contracts to outfielder Andre Ethier, starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw, and first baseman James Loney.

Kuo had a trying year in 2011, battling control problems that caused him to miss over a month on the disabled list with an anxiety disorder. One year after setting a Dodgers franchise record with a 1.20 ERA in 60 innings, Kuo put up a 9.00 ERA in 27 innings in 2011. Then, he ended the season by having arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow on October 28, the fifth surgery on his left elbow in his career.

Kuo was signed by the Dodgers out of high school in Taiwan in June 1999, making him the dean of the Dodgers. He made $2.725 million in 2011 and while he is now a free agent, general manager Ned Colletti has expressed interest in re-signing Kuo, per Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.

Kershaw is the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner and is arbitration eligible for the first time. He made $500,000 in 2011, but is expected to make at least $8 million in 2012. The 23-year old is a prime candidate for a long-term extension at some point this winter, though that may have to wait until the sale of the team is completed, a process that is expected to last until April.

Ethier made $9.25 million in 2011 in the final year of a two-year deal signed before the 2010 season. He hit .292/.368/.421 in 2011, but suffered a power outage with just 11 home runs in 551 plate appearances. Ethier battled a knee injury that ultimately required surgery in September and caused him to miss most of the final month of the season.

Loney was a clear candidate to be non-tendered in the first part of the season, hitting just .268/.311/.342 with four home runs in 91 games before the All-Star break. But a second half surge by Loney – .320/.380/.534 with 18 doubles and eight home runs in 67 games after the break – assured Loney of a job in 2012. He made $4.875 million last season.

The Dodgers have 39 players on their 40-man roster.

For more on Kuo and the other Dodgers tendered contract on Monday, be sure to read True Blue LA.

Read More: Dana Eveland (P – LOS), Matt Kemp (CF – LOS), Tim Lincecum (P – SFG), Hiroki Kuroda (P – LOS), Ryan Vogelsong (P – SFG), Clayton Kershaw (P – LOS), Madison Bumgarner (P – SFG), Jerry Sands (LF – LOS), San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers, Sep 21, 2011 7:10 PM PDT

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the San Francisco Giants 8-5 on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium, in a game devoid of the pitch-by-pitch excitement of the Clayton Kershaw vs. Tim Lincecum duel of the night before. However, Matt Kemp did provide the home crowd with a delight, furthering his own case for National League MVP.

Kemp hit a long home run into the pavilion in left center field in the fifth inning, a three-run shot off Ryan Vogelsong. It was the 35th home run on the year for Kemp, making him the 14th player in MLB history to have 35 home runs and 35 stolen bases in the same season.

Kemp now has a National League-leading 116 RBI on the season, the sixth highest RBI total in Los Angeles Dodgers history.

Dana Eveland took the loss, allowing five runs in four innings in his fourth start as a Dodger. The Giants were up 5-0 early, then saw Kemp cut their lead to 5-4 in the fifth inning. But San Francisco tacked on one run in the sixth inning and two more in the seventh.

A pair of Dodgers rookies extended their hitting streaks on Wednesday. Jerry Sands singled in the eighth inning, pushing his hitting streak to nine games, and he has 17 hits in his last 34 at-bats. Dee Gordon’s streak is now at eight games, thanks to two singles, a stolen base, and a run scored tonight for the shortstop.

Hiroki Kuroda starts on Thursday for the Dodgers in their final home game of the season. Madison Bumgarner starts for San Francisco.

For more Dodgers news and information, be sure to read True Blue LA.

LOS ANGELES – Former Great Lakes Loons pitcher Clayton Kershaw has put himself into the discussion about the Cy Young Award, but he is also in line to win perhaps another award.

Kershaw is the Los Angeles Dodgers nomination for the Roberto Clemente Award, which goes to the major league player for contributions on and off the field.

Kershaw set up the Kershaw Challenge, which asks for donations to build an orphanage in Zambia. Kershaw has also donated $100 for every strikeout.

Even though Kershaw and his wife Ellen are close to their goal of $70,000, donations are still being accepted.

Kershaw carries a 2.36 ERA with an 18-5 record and 231 strikeouts.

The 23-year-old left-hander played with the Loons in 2007, going 7-5 with a 2.77 ERA.

espn.com: “I’m thrilled the Dodgers have recognized me for it,” Kershaw said. “When you’re in the position we’re in of getting to play baseball, you have an opportunity to help a lot of people. This Kershaw Challenge thing that my wife and I have started putting together has been a huge blessing for us. I’m grateful to the Dodgers for being so helpful.”

LOS ANGELES – Former Great Lakes Loons star Clayton Kershaw was named the National League Pitcher of the Month for July.

In five July starts, Kershaw was 4-1 with a 2.02 ERA. The left-handed starter struck out 45 in 35 2/3 innings with just eight walks.

This is his first career monthly award.

Kershaw pitched for the Loons in 2007, starting the first game in Great Lakes Loons history. He was 7-5 with a 2.77 ERA before a promotion to Double A.

PHOENIX, July 16 (UPI) — Homers by Juan Rivera and Matt Kemp helped Los Angeles build a six-run lead Friday and the Dodgers held on to defeat Arizona 6-4.

The Dodgers extended their longest winning streak of the season to five games, a run of success that has followed seven losses in eight contests.

Rivera opened the scoring with a solo shot in the second and Kemp hit a two-run blast in the sixth that gave the Dodgers a 5-0 lead. Kemp also singled in starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw in the seventh.

That gave Los Angeles enough of an advantage to withstand Arizona’s four-run seventh, an inning that featured a three-run homer by Xavier Nady off Kershaw. All of the runs were unearned due to a fielding error by third baseman Juan Uribe.

Hong-Chih Kuo went to the mound in the ninth for the Dodgers, but was replaced by Javy Guerra with a runner on first and two out.

Guerra gave up a single to Nady before striking out Brandon Allen to end the game. It was Guerra’s fifth save.

Kershaw (10-4) allowed the four unearned runs on five hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings.

The loss went to Joe Saunders (6-8), who was touched for three runs on five hits in six frames.