Los Angeles Dodgers: Bullpen Backup Plan

The Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen was heavily carried by Kenley Jansen during the 2016 season. If he departs, they’ll need to look elsewhere to complete their bullpen.

The Los Angeles Dodgers were incredibly successful during the 2016 season. When Clayton Kershaw went down with an injury while the Dodgers were looking up at the Giants in the division, it seemed as though the season was lost. The emergence of Kenley Jansen was a huge reason why they were able to storm the Giants and take their fourth straight NL West title. Jansen’s importance to the team only grew once they reached the postseason. In the ALDS, he was crucial to the Dodgers winning the series, especially in Game 5.

According to multiple rumor mills, Jansen will make a decision between the Dodgers and the Marlins this afternoon. Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports that the Marlins have offered Jansen a deal for nearly as much money as Aroldis Chapman received from the Yankees.

The Dodgers are not quiet about their willingness to spend money on the right players; however, they are under pressure due to the luxury tax and a wealth of debt accrued during the previous ownership. The Marlins are clearly highly interested in signing Jansen, and willing to pay him a ginormous amount. If the Dodgers are unable to outbid the Marlins, they will need to look elsewhere to fill Jansen’s place in the bullpen. Their internal options simply aren’t good enough for the Dodgers to remain one of the best teams in the National League.

The free agent market after Chapman and Mark Melancon, who have already signed, drops off heavily. The sole remaining option is that the Dodgers could trade for a closer on a team that is currently selling off players. One team, the White Sox, is an obvious fit. Another team, the Orioles, could be coerced into selling.

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The White Sox have been the team of the Winter Meetings so far, selling off their biggest asset in Chris Sale and getting a large return for Adam Eaton. With Sale and Eaton both gone from the team, they have no reason to keep players like Todd Frazier and David Robertson on the roster. The Dodgers could have interest in both players, which could be beneficial in a trade. The Dodgers were involved in a three-way trade with the White Sox just a year ago, which sent Todd Frazier to the White Sox and three players to the Dodgers, while the Dodgers shipped away three prospects to Cincinnati. For the price of a few prospects, the Dodgers could easily pry both Frazier and Robertson, or just Robertson, away from the White Sox.

Robertson is coming off one of his worst seasons. While he did struggle during 2016, there’s a good chance that it was because he was playing while injured. The Dodgers may be able to buy low on Robertson, avoiding giving up any of their top prospects.

If the Dodgers want a more sure bet at closer, they could contact the Orioles. The Orioles are an aging team that continues to lose core players as time goes on. Their minor league system is depleted, which indicates that they could have interest in selling to rebuild the farm. Selling away a player like Zach Britton just one year removed from a playoff appearance would certainly be shocking. However, the Dodgers would surely be willing to pay a premium price for the pitcher who was arguably the best reliever in all of baseball last season.

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Whichever direction the Dodgers decide to go, they will most likely be successful. They will rely on staying healthy to repeat 2016’s performance, and after all the injuries they encountered just a season ago, luck may be shifting their way. Failing to sign Kenley Jansen due to financial restrictions would be frustrating for the Dodgers, but it would open up an opportunity to give Justin Turner the best offer on the table. If they can get Robertson or Britton while also signing Turner back, they should have a good season in store. This all becomes moot, of course, if Kenley Jansen decides to sign with the Dodgers today. Either way, the Dodgers will need a closer if they want to compete with the best teams in the league.