Dodgers Should Sign the Best Remaining Free Agent

The Dodgers should sign Craig Kimbrel. I know this is not a popular opinion but please hear me out. Every Dodger fan and their mother loves Kenley Jansen at the back end of the Dodgers’ bullpen.

Please don’t think I’m a traitor, I’m a huge fan of ‘Kenleyfornia’ and all he has done for the team and the city over the course of his career.  But Jansen has demonstrated that he is indeed human over the last two seasons, both in the regular season and deep in the playoffs. Jansen has logged tons of innings over the last few seasons, and any reinforcement would bring much-needed relief to Jansen’s big-time arm.

Craig Kimbrel is as good as it gets in terms of bullpen help. In fact, he probably is one of just two or three relievers who could rival Kenley’s production.  The seven-time All-Star closer has reached 40 saves five different times in his career with a career 1.91 ERA over the course of his nine seasons (Jansen has reached three All-Star games, eclipsed 40 saves three times and has a career 2.20 ERA in his nine-year career).

Obviously, bringing in Kimbrel could potentially create some unnecessary tension with Jansen. Inserting a comparable closer into the mix for saves could make manager Dave Roberts have to choose between the franchise’s most notable reliever since Eric Gagne and the more accomplished new guy in Kimbrel.

Jansen has said before that he wouldn’t be completely opposed to bringing in another established closer into the fold. He said this regarding the failed Aroldis Chapman trade back in the 2016-17 offseason:

"Jansen was already in a bad mood when news broke of the Chapman trade because he spent a day on the ocean when the fish weren’t biting.“When I heard that, I wanted to know what they’re thinking, so we talked to them,” he said. “Andrew knows I’m the kind of person where, just be honest, and that’s what he did. He told me he wanted to improve the team and we’re on the same page there, so the trade didn’t happen and I’ve got to move forward. Why do I have to be bitter about it?”"

With the addition of Kimbrel, Jansen would most likely retain the closer role. When similarly-equipped playoff teams have acquired big-time relievers in the past, while they still roster an established closer, the pair either split saves or the original closer continues to close the majority of games.

This happened last season with the Cleveland Indians, albeit with lesser relievers than Jansen and Kimbrel. The Indians dealt for two-time All-Star Brad Hand to supplement Cody Allen. The trade occurred on July 21. From then on, Hand secured 8 saves with the Tribe and Allen had 7.

The Dodgers have failed to manage their bullpen effectively over the last two seasons, mostly in the World Series, as their best relievers have been noticeably overworked to get the team into the World Series and then they cannot quite overcome the fatigue. This has been seen not just in Jansen’s playoff performances, but in Brandon Morrow’s, Ryan Madson’s and even in Kenta Maeda’s.

Even if it may seem like overkill to sign Kimbrel, plenty of people were okay signing Adam Ottavino or David Robertson early on in the offseason, and both of these players could close for almost any team in the MLB. Instead, the signed with teams that are looking to make the playoffs and make a deep run in the playoffs, the New York Yankees and the Philidelphia Phillies respectively.

Both of these franchises are not worried about closer competitions, they are just worried about winning enough games to make the playoffs and winning the 11 (or 12 with a Wild Card) games necessary to bring home a championship trophy.

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The Dodgers should begin to latch on to the super bullpen mindset that has taken hold of the game in recent years. The Kansas City Royals popularized this strategy when they went to back-to-back World Series in 2014 and 2015 with their “Three-headed Monster” of Kelvin Herrera in the 7th, Wade Davis in the 8th, and Greg Holland in the 9th. All three of these relievers have gone on to close for one team or the other since 2015.

The Dodgers could have a similar bullpen to the Royals’ monstrous title-winning bullpen if they acquired Kimbrel. Whether he pitched in the 8th or in the 9th or alternated with Jansen, the team would most likely be better with him on it.

Plus, with very little action on the Kimbrel-rumor front and with Spring Training already well underway, the likelihood of Kimbrel signing anything more than a one-year deal for around $20 million is becoming increasingly low.

It isn’t often that a team can add a seasoned veteran and likely Hall of Famer to the back end of their bullpen for less than market value.  The Dodgers have let plenty of All-Stars go elsewhere this offseason.  They shouldn’t let it happen again.