Dodgers News: Kenley Jansen Is Official; Micah Johnson DFA’d
The re-signing of Kenley Jansen is finally official, per the Dodgers.
Micah Johnson was designated for assignment to make room for Jansen, according to Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times. The press conference with Jansen and Justin Turner will be tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. and broadcast on SportsNet LA.
It's OFFICIAL: Welcome back @kenleyjansen74! Here's the official press release: pic.twitter.com/XZxImg993q
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) January 10, 2017
Today, the #Dodgers announced the signing of Kenley Jansen to a five-year contract. pic.twitter.com/qA4yCVd8Qk
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) January 10, 2017
At long last, the Dodgers have finalized Kenley Jansen's contract. To make room on the 40-man roster, the team DFA'd Micah Johnson.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) January 10, 2017
Kenley Jansen deal official. Breakdown: 4M sign bonus. 10M in '17 and '18, 18M in in '19 and. '20, 20M in '21. #dodgers
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 10, 2017
For part of the offseason, Jansen seemed to be destined for another city. The Miami Marlins pushed hard for his services, while the Washington Nationals jumped in late with an offer richer than the Dodgers’. In the end, after his wedding weekend was spent with family and friends, Jansen contacted his agent and decided to stay in Los Angeles.
Johnson was thought to be a long-shot option at second base if the Dodgers fail to upgrade at that spot. He only played in seven games for the Dodgers last season, with one hit in six at-bats. The recent signing of Jose Miguel Fernandez likely didn’t help either. While he won’t immediately be added to the roster, Miguel Fernandez is expected to contribute in the nearer future.
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I’m stunned 3+ seasons after the Dee Gordon fiasco, the FO has yet to identify/trade for/draft a suitable long term replacement at 2B. Clearly it’s not for the lack of trying, Howie Kendrick, Alex Guerrero, Jose Peraza, Hector Olivera, Chris Taylor, Charlie Culberson, Kike Hernandez and Micah Johnson were all considered at 2B at some point. Chase Utley and now Miguel Fernandez were/are signed as stop gap measures.
What I’m perplexed by is not the effort (although most acquitions were mid-level prospects at best, except for Peraza) but the skill in evaluating long-term talent, especially infield positions. Kershaw, Seager, Pedersen and Bellinger were all drafted by previous GM’s. Without a clear vision to develop a true 2B (Calhoun not even being close to MLB ready) there needs to be an urgency to stop this revolving door at such a critical position like 2B, and make the trade (and overpay) for Dozier, Forsythe or Kinsler now.
Skythomsen i agree
Tmaxster Skythomsen friedman faied with the rays and is a cheastake and i ready calhouns scouting report and he is more suited as a LF/DH
JustinKlein Tmaxster Skythomsen I am not a Freidman fan as such but he did not fail with the Rays. If nothing else it got him one helluva a gig with the Dodgers. Second I am not a huge fan of his to this point but he has made some decent moves and some very bad ones. Calhoun is working on his D. he is not a big man but may be able to play there if he works on it. Remember Joe Morgan he was a little guy with power that had to work on his D. He did OK. not saying Calhoun is Morgan but give him a try.
I do not see them trading for Dozeir and the others do not make sense.