With Kenley Jansen out for 2-3 months the Los Angeles Dodgers now have even more work to do with their questionable bullpen. Is Francisco Rodriguez a realistic option for the closer position?
It was previously reported Rodriguez was seeking a two-year contract, but Bob Nightengale of USA Today says the right-hander is seeking a $10 million contract, so it appears a one-year deal may suffice after all. The Dodgers were already in search of another bullpen arm and it's likely they ramp up those efforts with Jansen on the shelf.
But would they be willing to spend $10 million on Rodriguez?
The team's new front office spent much of the offseason purging undesirable contracts or letting high-priced free agents walk, so investing $10 million on a 33-year-old reliever is a bit contradictory. The Dodgers traded Matt Kemp and absorbed $33 million of his remaining $108 million salary, released Brian Wilson and his $9.5 million salary, let free agents Hanley Ramirez and Chris Perez go, and said they're willing to absorb half of Brandon League's $8.5 million salary in a trade.
In support of that philosophy, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal writes, "it would be a shock if they made a move out of desperation with Jansen out."
However, they may have to open up their pockets if they want to ensure security at the back end of the bullpen until Jansen returns. Rodriguez spent last season with the Milwaukee Brewers and finished 5-5 with a 3.04 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 73 strikeouts and 44 saves in 69 games (68 innings).
Rafael Soriano is another option and he was closer for the Tampa Bay Rays when Andrew Friedman was there, and he's now president of baseball operations for the Dodgers. It's unknown how much money Soriano is seeking, but he made it clear he wants to be closing in 2015.
"Both would presumably like to be signed to a multiyear deal as a closer," writes Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times. "But camps are opening and that window may have narrowed to the point where they'd come to the Dodgers to at least start as the closer and pitch on a team expected to win."
Although the Dodgers may not want to spend the money, we know that they definitely have the deep pockets to do so. Making the expenditure will likely help them get off to a better start in 2015.
