When free agency began, the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals were the teams most prominently linked to Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon.
Each of the three closers were expected to sign contracts that shattered the four-year, $50 million deal Jonathan Papelbon received from the Philadelphia Phillies in 2011, which set a record for relief pitchers.
Melancon was the first domino to fall, inking a four-year, $62 million contract with the Giants this week. As Chapman and Jansen have remained on the open market, the Miami Marlins have emerged as a serious suitor for both, with their preference believed to be Jansen.
The same holds true for the Dodgers, while the Yankees are said to favor Chapman. Though, New York reportedly submitted contract offers to both closers.
As the Winter Meetings are winding to a close, an executive said each club is awaiting Chapman’s decision, per ESPN’s Jayson Stark:
Now, said an executive of one interested team Wednesday, “Everyone is waiting on Chapman.”
Chapman is free to sign with any club without the signing team being forced to lose their first unprotected (outside top 10) pick in the 2017 Draft. The same doesn’t hold true for Jansen, as he rejected the Dodgers’ qualifying offer.
Chapman acknowledged this week he’s seeking a six-year contract, and implied it should total $100 million. General consensus has Jansen receiving a five-year contract, with both closers likely signing in the neighborhood of $85-90 million.
Chapman went 3-0 with 20 saves, a 2.01 ERA, 1.93 FIP and 0.89 WHIP in 31 games with the Yankees, then converted 16 saves with a 1.01 ERA with the Chicago Cubs. He served a 30-game suspension at the outset of the season for his involvement in an alleged domestic violence incident.
The 28-year-old said in November he would love to re-join the Yankees.
Jansen finished the season with 47 saves, a 1.83 ERA and 0.67 WHIP. He broke the Dodgers franchise record for most saves all-time, finished tied for second in the Majors in saves, and led qualified National League closers in WHIP and strikeouts (104).
