UPDATE (Dec. 12, 10:45 a.m.): The Los Angeles Dodgers and Kenley Jansen reportedly agreed to terms on a five-year contract.
At the outset of free agency the Los Angeles Dodgers faced questions in their starting rotation, bullpen and at third base. Rich Hill, Kenley Jansen and Justin Turner represented solutions to those needs.
But with a new collective bargaining agreement in place, one that drops the hammer on clubs that excessively surpass the competitive balance (luxury tax) threshold, re-signing each of the aforementioned players never quite seemed feasible.
Hill was the first domino to fall, returning on a three-year, $48 million contract. The cost was steep for a 36-year-old pitcher, but fell below what many expected the best-available starter to fetch on the open market.
As Jansen and Turner now remain as the cream of the crop of free agents, the Dodgers believe re-signing both players is a realistic possibility, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports:
Club officials believe that even if they re-sign Jansen, they will be flexible enough financially to retain free-agent third baseman Justin Turner.
Rosenthal later added the Dodgers were nearing agreements with Jansen and Turner:
Sources: #Dodgers close on both Turner AND Jansen.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 12, 2016
After Aroldis Chapman agreed to a five-year, $86 million contract, the Miami Marlins were said to have submitted a similar offer to Jansen. Doubt was cast on whether the Dodgers would match, leading to the belief Jansen would wind up with the Marlins or Washington Nationals.
The Dodgers all-time saves leader got married in Curaçao over the weekend, which presumably has impacted the timeline for a decision. Turner was among Jansen’s Dodgers teammates in attendance.
The 32-year-old third basemanreportedly is nearing an agreement on a four-year deal that may include deferred salaries.
Los Angeles has moved to lower their payroll in recent seasons, which general manager Farhan Zaidi said played a role in trading Howie Kendrick to the Philadelphia Phillies.
