What Are The Dodgers To Do With Kenley Jansen?

It isn't that Jansen is no longer good enough to pitch in the majors, necessarily; he’s just not good enough to pitch for the Dodgers.

Tim Heitman. USA Today Sports

What are the Dodgers to do with Kenley Jansen, stick a fork in him because he’s done? Well yes, that’s harsh, but this ain’t beanbag, Dodgers fans, and nice guys finish last. Or so they tell me.

Let’s be clear, the old-by-closer-standards 33-year-old right-hander is done. As a Dodger. Or should be. The velocity, after 11 seasons, 632 appearances and 636 innings, is never coming back. Never. In fact, to illustrate I predict that Jansen will throw more baseballs at 90 miles-per-hour-and-below than at 91, 92 or greater in 2021. I don’t want him soft-tossing in Los Angeles. And he no longer has the control to compensate.

Look, the big fella has had a wonderful career. He’s the greatest relief pitcher in Dodgers franchise history (that’s Brooklyn and L.A.). There is to be no minimizing his accomplishments. The career statistics are as follows: 33 wins, 22 losses, a 2.39 earned run average, 2.20 fielding independent pitching (FIP), a 0.915 WHIP, 414 hits allowed, 179 runs, 169 earned runs, 168 walks, nine intentional walks, 312 saves (a franchise record) and 936 strikeouts in 636 innings, which amounts to a glittering 13.2 strikeouts per nine (SO9).

Good luck finding a better seven-year run than Jansen’s 2011 through 2017 seasons. During that time, the 6’ 5” 265 pound gentle giant pitched in 449 games, finishing 325 of them, with a 2.16 ERA, a 1.84 FIP, an 0.864 WHIP, with 226 saves and 700 strikeouts in 450 innings and a 14.0 SO9. An historic run.

On the down side, and most importantly, Jansen holds the record for most blown saves in World Series history (with four) and has two losses. While he did not allow a run in the 2020 National League Championship Series, he was touched for five earned in the NLDS and WS last year, good for a combined ERA of 12.00. Or bad for.

Had it not been for Julio Urias’ god-like closing performance in both the NLCS and the Series, there would be no debate about Jansen to be had this February. All would be in agreement, with the common refrain being something along the lines of this: “It’s been 33 years between championships! Enough already!! Jansen goes!!!”

Thankfully, Urias came through, and Dave Roberts actually went to him each time, which is no small feat. The Dodgers are champions of baseball. For the moment. In order to repeat, however, to win the NL West a ninth straight time opposite a frighteningly good San Diego squad, there is little margin for error. And no room for once-great relievers pouting in the bullpen. No room on a 13-man pitching staff. L.A.’s best eight relievers must get the Opening Day nods, and as many opportunities to save games from April through October as is possible. Young starters who as of this writing are on the outside of the rotation looking in, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin, must get a chance to succeed in relief, early during the 162-game schedule and often. In the big leagues, until they prove themselves to be either unworthy or are needed in a starting role. All of which is easier to accomplish with a vacancy created by trading Jansen.

It’s not that Jansen is no longer good enough to pitch in the majors, necessarily; he’s just not good enough to pitch for the Dodgers, who have more competitive arms than they know what to do with it. No other team in baseball can make such a claim. Of the other 29 clubs, I’m fairly certain that a handful of them would take a flier on Jansen. If the price is right. If L.A. kicks in $13 million, $14 million or even $15 million of the $20 mil remaining on the final year of Jansen’s five-year, $80 mil contract signed in 2017.

Perhaps in Atlanta, which just lost Mark Melancon to the Pads via free agency, and where former Dodgers’ executive Alex Anthopoulos calls the shots. Or in San Francisco, where the rebuilding Giants are led by Farhan Zaidi, the former L.A. general manager. Maybe the Marlins, where Jansen’s old boss Don Mattingly may see the benefit in having a battle-tested, pennant race-experienced veteran reliever to rub off on his young Marlins, are a fit. The A’s just coughed up $11 mil for Trevor Rosenthal, but might still be in the market for another veteran, if the Dodgers were to kick in more of a financial incentive. Or a prospect.

The point is, there are always things you can do; always deals to be made. Kenley would have to void his no-trade clause before a deal could be made official, but don’t you think he’d prefer to go where he is most wanted, and to a club that would give him the best chance to rebuild his value during a walk year?

The Dodgers don’t need a potentially disgruntled savior sitting around in a bullpen of better pitchers. They don’t need Jansen pitching the fifth or sixing inning and they don’t need him mopping up. A club with fewer options — which, compared to the Dodgers is most of them — makes sense all the way around. It’s time to move forward, with a trade of Jansen, along with our gratitude for the many contributions.

ICYMI:

The Padres and Fernando Tatis, Jr. have come to terms on a new 14-year, $340 million contract extension. Because why wouldn’t they, what with the 22-year-old shortstop being on the precipice of free agency…in the year 2025! Whatever, San Diego can spend its money any way it pleases, God bless em. Knock yourself out, A.J. Preller, you big market general manager you.

The FanGraphs top 100 prospects list is out, and names three Dodgers — Josiah Gray, Keibert Ruiz and Michael Busch — with two “near misses” in Andy Pages and Jacob Amayo thrown in for good measure.

The first injury to a VIP (very important player) goes to J.T. Realmuto, who fractured his right thumb prior to reporting to Spring Training. While it’s supposedly a two-weeks-off injury (yeah, and the best laid plans of mice and men, right Vin?), the Phillies’ catcher is already talking in terms of being ready for the Opening Day, as if he might not be.

Former-Dodger second baseman and Twins stalwart Brian Dozier hangs em up at 33.

And 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow announced yesterday that he is retiring from baseball. Call it a publicity stunt if that’s what gets you through the night, but from one lover of baseball to another, I just don’t see how you can fault a guy for wanting to play a game he loves if given the chance for as long as he can. This isn’t a Garth-Brooks-to-San-Diego bush league kind of thing. If the gig gave Tebow even the slightest extra bit of a platform for his good works (including this one), great. I hadn’t heard of the Tim Tebow Foundation prior to 33-year-old’s debut with the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League five years ago and now I have.

Media Savvy:

For a guaranteed smile, read 'When I saw myself like that, I cracked up': How MLB Minis became a big hit with players, by Joon Lee at ESPN.com.

And for a frown, Max Scherzer has an idea about a potential expanded playoff format, a round robin.

Baseball Photos of the Day:

1959 World Series MVP Larry Sherry.

Clem Labine.

Maury Wills, with 104 bags, 1962.

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Howard Cole has been writing about baseball on the Internet since Y2K. Follow him on Twitter. Follow OBHC on Twitter here. Be friends with Howard on Facebook.

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