Dodgers Completed 2 Vital Offseason Tasks on Monday
Monday, news broke that the Dodgers had resigned Kenley Jansen and Justin Turner. Jansen reportedly received a 5 year/$80 million deal while Turner inked a 4 year/$64 million contract. This news is very positive as both players were vital pieces of the Dodgers’ 2016 NLCS team. Although long term contracts at $16 million per year to a reliever and a 32 year old third baseman may not sound like the best business, bringing back Turner and Jansen should position the team well to win a 5th consecutive NL West crown in 2017.
Of the two contracts, Jansen’s was certainly more surprising. Rumors had been swirling ever since the offseason began that the Marlins were going to offer the Curacao native a monster contract that he would not be able to refuse. According to all indications, a deal of this magnitude was on the table for Jansen, but the big right hander wanted to return to Los Angeles and took a slight pay cut in order to facilitate that desire.
With Mark Melancon and Aroldis Chapman already in their new homes, losing Jansen would have been a tough blow for the Dodgers. Los Angeles does not have anyone on the roster who is ready to become an elite major league closer. If Jansen were to leave, there was a realistic chance that Joe Blanton or Yimi Garcia would be closing games at Chavez Ravine in 2017. For Dodger fans, that is a scary thought.
At 29 years old, Jansen is coming off arguably the best year of his career. The big closer recorded a 1.83 ERA, 213 ERA+ (100 is average), 1.44 FIP, 13.6 strikeouts per nine, and 47 saves. In addition, Jansen was lights out in the postseason, shutting down the Nationals and Cubs as one of the Dodgers’ most important players.
Replacing Jansen would have been incredibly difficult especially when considering that there are few options left on the open market or even the trade market. Dave Roberts loves to heavily utilize his bullpen in order to maximize the attractiveness of certain matchups in the late innings and Jansen is a huge part of this strategy.
A weak bullpen would force Roberts to completely change his in-game tactics that turned out to be a big part of the team’s success in 2016. Plus, the importance of a strong bullpen has never been higher in the postseason. The two teams who made the World Series each had an excellent group of relievers that were vital to their run to the fall classic. The Dodgers need to have a bullpen capable of matching their rivals, and this would not have been possible had Jansen not been resigned.
Turner’s impact in 2016 was similarly important. The former New York Met put up a career high 27 home runs as well as an impressive .275/.339/.493 slash line for an OPS+ of 124 (100 is league average). When combined with the third baseman’s borderline gold-glove caliber defense, it is clear that Turner is one of the five best players to man the hot corner in the National League.
The Southern California native’s production cannot be denied, but his impact off the field for the Dodgers is just as important. This past season, Turner emerged as a true leader in the clubhouse for the Dodgers. When Kershaw hurt his back in late June leaving many to predict the Dodgers falling out of playoff contention, Turner’s ability to rally his teammates played a huge role in the team’s dramatic climb to the top of the NL West. Without Turner’s impact in the clubhouse, the Dodgers would have most likely finished 2016 much further down the standings.
While Turner and Jansen’s return will be a big lift for the team, each contract comes with its fair share of risks. Jansen is a 29 year old reliever who has a history of heart issues. Turner, on the other hand, just turned 32 and had microfracture knee surgery last offseason. Considering that both players are now under contract in Los Angeles through their age 36 seasons, there is a decently strong chance that both deals will be a burden by the time they expire. That being said, if the Dodgers want to be competitive in the short term, each player’s return was imperative.
If Jansen and Turner had decided to leave, there would be two massive holes on the Dodgers’ roster that could not be easily filled. With Kershaw in his prime, Adrian Gonzalez at the back end of his prime, and Corey Seager a legitimate star, the Dodgers need to compete deep into the postseason over the next couple years. Resigning Jansen and Turner could play a big part in accomplishing that goal.
