MLB: Kenley Jansen only one thriving from big offseason closer class

Two of the three brand-name closers from last winter’s MLB free agent pool haven’t had the seasons they – or their teams – expected.

Last offseason was an exciting one for MLB teams in need of bullpen help… that also had some money to burn. Three of the game’s top closers hit the free agent market: Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon. From 2012 to 2016, they ranked second (Chapman – 181), third (Jansen – 180) and sixth (Melancon – 148) in total saves. Not a bad selection to choose from if you were looking to shore up the ninth inning of ballgames.

Unsurprisingly, the trio of closers did quite well financially in signing new contracts. Record-breaking, even. Melancon inked a four-year, $62 million deal with the Giants, a landmark that stood for a bit over a week until Chapman returned to the Yankees to the tune of five years and $86 million. Jansen arrived just under that figure with a five-year, $80 million pact to re-sign with the Dodgers.

While the dollar signs were expected, most fans probably wouldn’t have guessed that two of the three relievers would experience significant struggles in 2017. Heading into the final weeks of the regular season, Jansen is the only one having what you’d call a trademark year.

Forearm and elbow trouble has limited Melancon to only 29.1 innings, and he’ll need to undergo surgery to treat a rare muscle disorder now or in the offseason. When he has taken the mound, he’s been far from the lockdown closer who saved over 45 games in each of the previous two seasons. Melancon has gone just 11-for-16 in save opportunities with a 3.99 ERA and 1.36 WHIP.

While his 1.8 BB/9 and 8.6 K/9 rates are still close to his career averages, his H/9 and HR/9 rates have increased to 10.4 and 0.9, respectively. Many pegged Melancon as a good fit in San Francisco who’d post similar results as Jansen and Chapman for significantly less money. It certainly hasn’t started off that way, and it’s worth wondering what the next three years of the contract will look like for Melancon as he turns 33 next March.

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Chapman has turned into an enigma for the Yankees as well, albeit with an extra year and $24 million more on his deal. The Cuban flamethrower hasn’t looked like himself for large stretches of the season. He owns a 4.12 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 3.06 K/BB ratio in 39.1 frames. Virtually all of his peripheral stats are worse than in years prior. Particularly concerning might be his 12.6 K/9 – while still very good, it’s a noticeable decline after five straight years of at least 14.0 K/9.

Anyone who has watched Chapman this year knows he has struggled to generated swings and misses like he usually does. His uncharacteristic performance led to his removal from the closer’s role, at least for now. The Yankees can’t take any chances as they fight for a playoff spot, but they will of course hope their investment rediscovers his footing. His last appearance – a three-strikeout scoreless inning against the Red Sox – was a step in the right direction.

Meanwhile, Jansen has continued to give the Dodgers what they’ve been seeing for the past eight years. He leads the NL in saves with 36 and has blown only one chance all season. He boasts a 1.21 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and an eyebrow-raising 15.67 K/BB over 59.1 innings of work. That K/BB easily leads all relievers. (Pat Neshek is next with 12.00 K/BB.) Jansen has been a model of consistency for L.A., and this campaign hasn’t been any different.

Next: Aaron Judge's record-breaking rookie year

So what’s the lesson here? That relief pitchers are volatile and giving them expensive long-term contracts is a bad idea? Not necessarily, as the book is hardly written on any of these guys for the next several years. But it should be interesting to see how the ways teams build – and pay – bullpens continue to evolve.

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