FanSided

3 players who can still return to Dodgers after lockout

By Thomas Carannante |
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 13: Relief pitcher Kenley Jansen #74 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is congratulated by Albert Pujols #55 and pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 after making his career 327th save during their inter-league game against the Texas Rangers at Dodger Stadium on June 13, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Dodgers won, 5-3. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 13: Relief pitcher Kenley Jansen #74 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is congratulated by Albert Pujols #55 and pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 after making his career 327th save during their inter-league game against the Texas Rangers at Dodger Stadium on June 13, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Dodgers won, 5-3. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
2 of 3
Next
Albert Pujols #55 of the Los Angeles Dodgers (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Albert Pujols #55 of the Los Angeles Dodgers (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /

The lockout is here. A few boring months lie ahead. The bad news? The Los Angeles Dodgers have a lot of work to do. The good news? They have plenty of time to prepare and strategize.

Even more advantageous? The in-demand Dodgers who hit free agency are already gone. Corey Seager signed with the Rangers and Max Scherzer joined the Mets. Corey Knebel, who was a sneaky high-upside reliever, joined the Phillies as well.

The more glaring issue with LA this offseason was the amount of in-house players they had ready to hit the open market. Fans were concerned if too many of them departed then the fabric of the team would be greatly compromised and that seriously heavy lifting would have to be done elsewhere to make up for the losses.

Seager’s already been replaced in the form of Trea Turner. And if the Dodgers add a high-profile first baseman (Freddie Freeman?!), then Max Muncy can shift over to second base and the offensive production is no longer lost. As for Scherzer, he’ll be missed, but that was a rental and the Dodgers likely knew they would have to determine next steps, especially with Trevor Bauer’s situation still hanging over their head. There will be answers on the trade market.

But for now, let’s focus on keeping the band together.

These three Dodgers can still return to LA after the lockout.

3. Albert Pujols

Tio Albert! Por favor! The glowing reviews from both manager Dave Roberts and a number of players revealed the importance of Pujols’ presence in the dugout, even if he was only contributing minimally.

After the Dodgers picked him up when he was released from the Angels, Pujols enjoyed a bit of a resurgence, hitting .254 with a .759 OPS (and above-average 101 OPS+!) in 85 games with LA. He mashed lefties and provided invaluable mentorship to the younger players and even the veterans.

Pujols participating in the Dominican Winter League for the first time in his storied baseball career revealed he was keen on returning for a 22nd MLB season in 2022. At this point, it feels like the Dodgers’ only competition here would be the St. Louis Cardinals given Pujols’ history with the franchise.

We’d bet LA has the upper hand because of its pedigree and clear role for the 41-year-old, which was a success in his short stint. The Dodgers like it. Pujols liked it. A reunion here is very realistic.

Kenley Jansen #74 of the Los Angeles Dodgers (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Kenley Jansen #74 of the Los Angeles Dodgers (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

2. Kenley Jansen

The best closer in Dodgers history. Arguably the best closer of his generation. Kenley Jansen is a free agent after his four-year, $80 million contract expired when 2021 came to a close, but there’s a mutual respect here. We can imagine Jansen will give the Dodgers an opportunity to match an outside offer … or it’ll be a situation like Taylor’s, where he wants to return and the two sides work out a favorable deal for both sides, especially since Jansen has already earned nearly $93 million throughout his career.

Then again, the Phillies, Blue Jays and Marlins have expressed interest, so it’s unclear how competitive things may get. But we really can’t think of a reason (outside of fan mistreatment, and you know who we’re talking about) for Jansen to want to leave LA if he’s offered a contract in the same ballpark that these other suitors are willing to give.

He can spend the next few years creating a cushion between himself and the next best Dodgers’ closer — Eric Gagne — to further assert his dominance as the best closer in team history and one of the best all-time (he’s 13th all-time in saves and could realistically crack the top five with two more really good years).

So far, LA lost Knebel and Joe Kelly and added Daniel Hudson. Tommy Kahnle will be available after missing all of 2021. Relying heavily on guys like Phil Bickford, Mitch White, Alex Vesia and Brusdar Graterol may not be the best decision. They’re best served in smaller roles. Jansen’s return is important and he could continue to anchor the bullpen with ease.

Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

1. Clayton Kershaw

And finally, the best pitcher of his generation. We hope Clayton Kershaw is thinking long and hard about the right decision to make this offseason … because that’s returning to the Dodgers and finishing his career with the team that drafted him. We cannot envision any other outcome.

The left-hander’s elbow troubles in 2021 really threw a wrench in everything. The Dodgers would’ve had no problem offering him another sizable contract had that not happened … and Kershaw probably wouldn’t need time to “think things over” with his family. That got us worried about a potential retirement.

Nonetheless, the Dodgers spoke candidly about Kershaw’s situation and how he knows the door is always open. It came as a surprise he wasn’t given the qualifying offer, but Andrew Friedman explained he didn’t want to put a timestamp on Kershaw’s decision, which had us thinking the Dodgers are confident he won’t be signing elsewhere. It kind of feels like it’s Dodgers or retirement. But we don’t know for sure. Just going based off “the feels.”

The lockout kind of feels like a blessing in disguise for this situation. Kershaw can take his time. The Dodgers can remain in contact and assess their other potential options in free agency and on the trade market as they plan for a worst-case scenario (life without Kershaw). We like our chances, though. The future Hall of Famer is a competitor and likely doesn’t want to go out on the current terms.

Even if he’s only making 20-ish starts, it’s still more valuable than an average arm making 33. Kershaw’s arm simply has to be back for morale. One last go-round. Come on!

Next
Home / Dodgers Rumors

Schedule