NEWSLETTER
With Aroldis Chapman returning to the New York Yankees as expected, the big closer ball is down to just one more belle, and it seems like he’ll be choosing from among the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Miami Marlins, and the Washington Nationals.
Kenley Jansen is likely to get a deal in the same range as Chapman’s five-year, $86 million pact with the Yankees (but it will probably be slightly less, as Jansen is tied to draft pick compensation; and he also might not get the desirable extra terms that Chapman got). But which team will give it to him?
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Here is some of the latest on a guy who will impact the 2017 playoff race and beyond:
Sources: #Nationals making a push for Kenley Jansen, joining #Dodgers, #Marlins.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 8, 2016
On #Nationals: Scherzer, Stras deals included big deferrals. So did offers to big free agents last year. Probably can’t get Jansen that way.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 8, 2016
#Nats met with Kenley Jansen's people here this week. Still think it's a long shot they spend what it'll take to sign him.
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) December 8, 2016
Source: Marlins made big run at Aroldis Chapman. Kenley Jansen still in play, but there are worries about giving up 13th overall pick.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 8, 2016
Sources: The Marlins have made a monster offer for Kenley Jansen — almost at the level of Aroldis Chapman. Five years, more than $80M.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 8, 2016
Marlins seem pretty determined to get top target kenley jansen. Dodgers still involved. Chapman's 86M deal set the stage.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 8, 2016
#Dodgers in tough spot. Logically see $80M plus as unwise for closer, but need Jansen and know how bad would look to be outbid by #Marlins
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 8, 2016
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I wonder if this shakes out today, now that Chapman has signed and the Winter Meetings are ending today. I’m sure the involved teams would like to know where they stand as soon as possible so that they can move forward with the rest of their offseasons. Further, the rest of the relief market (in which the Cubs are still involved) can fall into place once Jansen makes his decision.
If Jansen returns to the Dodgers, they won’t have to give up a draft pick to sign him, which could give them a slight edge in this process. Then again, state income taxes in California are so much higher than Florida that there is a very real financial difference between an $80 million contract with the Dodgers and an $80 million contract with the Marlins.
If you’re rooting, it’s probably to see Jansen go to the Marlins, who are less likely to be a playoff thorn next year than the Dodgers or Nationals. The Marlins would also have to give up the 13th overall pick in 2017 to sign Jansen, which would bump the Cubs up another spot in the draft (hooray! pick 28!).
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