Dodgers Rumors: Kenley Jansen Linked, Josh Hader ‘Most Connected,’ Who Will Be LA’s Closer?
The Los Angeles Dodgers may have spent over $1 billion this offseason, but their roster is far from complete heading into the 2024 season.
The Dodgers could still use another starting pitcher, another right-handed bat and a little more help in the bullpen.
Those are the current “holes.”
A non-hole on the roster is the closer position, as Evan Phillips manned that position very nicely in 2023.
However, Phillips was a bit worse in 2023 than he was in 2022, a year in which he played the versatile role as the team’s “fireman” option.
So, the Dodgers could opt to add a true closer this offseason, a move that would allow Phillips to return to his utility role. And they have tons of options.
The undisputed best closer on the market is Josh Hader, and the Dodgers have been linked with him all offseason.
The Dodgers have also been linked to premier closers on the trade market, including Emmanuel Clase of the Cleveland Guardians and old friend Kenley Jansen of the Boston Red Sox.
With all these rumors aplenty, our own Doug McKain broke down all the best options for the Dodgers, and who they should or should not target in terms of closers.
You can watch the full breakdown on the Dodgers Nation YouTube Channel by clicking the video at the top of the article, or by clicking right here.
McKain is firm no-go on Jansen, as the Dodgers don’t need to trade prospects to bring back the 36-year-old who wouldn’t even be a more stable option than Phillips.
As for Clase, McKain knows the price would be huge, and it’s tough to trade tons of top prospects for a closer.
In terms of Hader, though, McKain is interested, but only at the right price.
He says that the Dodgers should absolutely sign Hader if he “falls into their lap,” meaning he doesn’t get the record-breaking contract he’s looking for.
McKain thinks that Hader would be the perfect option for the Dodgers’ pen, and would potentially be more open to a versatile role.
While Hader was firm on always pitching the ninth inning for San Diego last year, McKain believes that was just to raise his value in free agency.
Since he’ll have signed his big deal this offseason, McKain believes Hader would be more open to playing matchups for the Dodgers, potentially pitching some eighth innings if Dave Roberts wanted him out there against lefties. That would still leave someone like Phillips to pitch the ninth.
Hader would definitely be a luxury more than a need at this point, but the Dodgers are going all-in this offseason. Why not get arguably the best closer in baseball to feel even more confident in the later innings?
Photo Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
no way
Sometimes in sports you just see a little snippet of a player and think that’s what they are. I’m a bowler. I might see someone from 4 lanes over, they throw nothing but strikes. I talk to them later and it seems the 4 I saw were the only 4 they had for the night.
Baseball. Hader. Seems like every game I’ve seen him in, he not only blows the save, he blows the game. Stats suggest otherwise. Still, between what I’ve seen and his attitude on the mound, I’d rather see him elsewhere.
The Dodgers still need a rh left fielder and another starter. They have Phillips, Graterol, Trienen and Kelly to finish games. Articles like these are not genuine.
We need to look in house. Hurt? He dominated in his couple games. Knack? Frasso? Feyeiresen? Phillips, Treinan, Kelly, Graterol? We should be done with relief pitchers. Left field. Hmm. Vargas rakes in AAA . It is a confidence thing. Give him the outfield military treatment this spring. If he can handle 2nd, 3rd, and 1st, he can handle LF. And get him in the lineup. Taylor moves around and does LF late innings.
Don’t forget Hurt. Yes, he’s at AAA, but he came up for a game vs. the Padres and put down the Pads in order for two innings including the Tatis/Machado/Soto inning! Bring him into camp, if he looks the part, let him run with it. Much cheaper option too as he’s under team control for a few years. Still have all the other veterans behind him. Put the money into LF (unfortunately. Had LaDuca) and another SP, and bring back Kike….
Emmanuel Clase all the way. Yeah he would cost a ton of prospects, but prospects the Dodgers have and not a lot of money to sign a big name they don’t need with a ridiculous idea of what he’s worth. Clase has 3 years of team control and is only 26. I would give them Busch, Vargas, Stone or Grove and maybe even throw in Margot since 10 mil is a lot for a platoon player. The four young’uns have shown next to nothing at the MLB level and the window to trade them is closing. Busch has no place to play where he is more than barely adequate and Vargas has played 1st Base and we all know how is foray at 2nd base went. Neither is suited for an outfield position so what are you really losing. We don’t have any more need for designated hitters with Ohtani and Muncy. So let clear out the opportunity scale for these four, (or others) and open up the opportunities for the kids still coming up that are suited for roles the Dodgers need, and get us a closer with a lot of upside. That’s my take…
Miguel Vargas needs to stay right here. I would be having him working hard in left field. He had stretches of a few games where he hit well. He raked in the minors; so it could be a confidence thing. As for left field, if he could play 2nd, 3rd, and 1st, he can surely play left. We have Jason Heyward and Mookie to help mentor him. Bottom line, if you trade him and he flourishes somewhere else; you have lost a golden opportunity. Mike Schmidt hit in the .190’s as a rookie. Think about that.
Vargas also suffered a thumb injury during ST, which, no doubt, set him back. Don’t know if it ever was totally healed during the season. If he’s healthy, he should play much better, all around.
The Dodger starting pitching will be so good that a truly dominant closer is not so important. It is the offense that can be questionable when compared to the Braves for instance.
graterol for closer if you want phillips to set up. seems like no one paid attention to the season he just had. not a strike out guy, but has the emotionality and effectiveness for the job. treinen and feyereisen healthy and ready to go, if either comes back as they were, they can close also. kelley, if he gets into one of his grooves where he is unhittable can close. they have a ton of relievers, and vargas is the right handed hitter for the 13th position player. they need another starter, just on a one year deal since next season they have Ohtani, gonsolin and may coming back, doesn’t have to be an ace or deuce, just a guy who can stay healthy and has basic competence. now lets play ball.
The Dodgers really need a shut down closer. A trade for Clase would fill that need. What would they need to give up? Could the add Beiber in the deal? If so…do it. Hader would be expensive, but he would fill the need. Shortening the game to 5 innings would help the health of our starters. Our bull pin could get thru the 6,7,and 8th inning, with the ability to close out the game with a dominant closer. Clase or Hader would fill that need.
The Dodgers really need a shut down closer. A trade for Clase would fill that need. What would they need to give up? Could they add Beiber in the deal? If so…do it. Hader would be expensive, but he would fill the need. Shortening the game to 5 innings would help the health of our starters. Our bull pin could get thru the 6,7,and 8th inning, with the ability to close out the game with a dominant closer. Clase or Hader would fill that need.