Kenley Jansen Expected to Be Traded This Summer, Should Dodgers Make Move For Him?
The Boston Red Sox are reportedly ready to move former Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen by the trade deadline, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
He’s earning $16 million this year and the Red Sox have no interest in bringing him back, especially because they are not in a position to compete for a World Series. Jansen was reportedly on the trade market over the offseason but the Red Sox never pulled the trigger.
Should the Dodgers make a move for him?
The 36-year-old has been solid for Boston this year. He has a 3.24 ERA in 17 appearances, but he also has the highest WHIP (1.32) of his career. For Jansen to do his job and for a team to get what they pay for, he needs to be on a winning squad. He only has nine saves this season.
Boston will want youth in return as the organization looks to the future which will force the Dodgers to be selective about prospects. Los Angeles has also been missing its closer Evan Phillips since he landed on the injured list back on May 5. He is inching closer to a return as he began his rehab assignment with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday.
An ideal bullpen situation would be Blake Treinen and Phillips setting up Jansen but the price tag might be too high considering he becomes a free agent at the end of the season. However, there is no guarantee that the Dodgers and Jansen would agree on an extension to bring him back to L.A. for more than a few months.
The biggest obstacle standing in the way of an attractive deal for Jansen is his control issue. His 13.9 percent walk rate will be a concern for potential buyers even if he has a strong 29.2 percent strikeout rate.
Photo Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
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No thank you.
Emotionally I’d love to see him back. I think the Dodgers gave up on him too early a couple of years ago, instead signing the dumpster fire that was Kimbrel. But my inner GM is skeptical unless trades can make the price a wash. Not sure how, but the ‘pen has been solid, it’s starting pitching that’s weak.
Been there, done that. Please don’t even consider it. It was agony watching him the last season he was here. No longer elite.
The only way I would trade for Jansen is if they took Taylor.
Why? Bullpen has been performing well even with the injuries. Treinen, Hudson, Phillips et all is a powerful combination.
Hopefully the Dodger GM reads these posts. Like previous commentors have said: Been there Done that. He was a great Dodger. He had a few down moments; but not many. He is now entering his career twilight. We have Phillips. Trienan. Vesia. Hudson. Feyereisen. Hurt. Kelly. All of those guys can get the job done for us. Evan is our DeFacto closer. And he is as tough as they come. The same could be said for Blake, Alex, Joe, or JP in setup with Daniel a step back from them. Kyle has a strong upside. Jury is out. Kenley, we are with you. But I think the Dodgers should pass.