Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen has somehow not been named an All-Star throughout his six-year MLB career. His career 2.28 ERA in 338 games should pay him nicely in free agency because it looks like that's where he'll be after the 2016 MLB season.
The Dodgers and Jansen avoided arbitration and agreed to a one-year, $10.65 million contract for the upcoming season, which could be the 28-year-old's last in Los Angeles. The team did not opt to negotiate an extension with him when they agreed to that deal, and that's been the case just a few days before the team's Opening Day.
Jansen told Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times that "nothing is going on" in terms of contract extension talks with the team and that he's "not going to talk about it," as he is focused on the upcoming season.
The Dodgers attempted to acquire Aroldis Chapman from the Cincinnati Reds earlier this offseason but nixed the deal when they discovered that he was involved in a domestic dispute. Chapman, according to rumors, would have taken over as closer and Jansen would have slipped into the setup man role, which is perhaps an indication that the team is not entirely interested in a long-term relationship being that Jansen probably wouldn't have been thrilled with the demotion.
And the same might go for Jansen. The right-hander declined to say that his first choice would be to stay in Los Angeles, according to Shaikin. He also said that he's not open to discussing a new contract during the season and that he would not "entertain" any negotiations once Monday rolls around.
Being that nothing is seemingly in place, it's all but guaranteed that Jansen will hit the open market after 2016 and probably get paid nicely among a weak class of free agents.
Jansen is 16-11 with a 2.28 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 142 saves and 528 strikeouts in 338 career games (340 innings) during his career with the Dodgers (in addition to averaging 14 strikeouts per nine innings). He's logged 80 saves over the past two seasons and has been one of the best closers in the game.
If that's the case, and the Dodgers don't make a bid for him, their pitching staff will be in even worse shape than it is right now.
