The Los Angeles Dodgers were already looking for another reliever before closer Kenley Jansen underwent surgery and was declared out for 8-12 weeks. Could Joba Chamberlain be the newest arm to join the Dodgers' bullpen?
According to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the Dodgers are showing interest in Chamberlain and are "considering other possibilities as well." Chamberlain, along with Rafael Soriano, Francisco Rodriguez and Phil Coke, are among the best relief pitchers available on the free-agent market. Los Angeles is now in need of a reliever to assume the closing duties because of Jansen's injury, which would make Soriano and Rodriguez the top candidates, but the team likely doesn't want to spend the money for them.
Chamberlain, 29, has spent eight MLB seasons with the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers and owns a 25-19 record with a 3.81 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 505 strikeouts in 329 games (507 2/3 innings). He arguably had his best season with the Tigers in 2014 as a full-time reliever, posting a 3.57 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 59 strikeouts in 69 games (63 innings). Early in his career he was a starter for some time and was converted to a reliever on a full-time basis in 2010. However, he was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery in 2011 and was limited over the next year.
It was reported back in January that Chamberlain "rejected multiple offers from teams he did not want to join" and although he is hoping for a two-year deal, it's likely he considers a one-year offer "with a relatively low base salary and incentives." Unfortunately, the right-hander struggled in the second half of 2014 because he "spent considerable time tending to his ailing mother" in Lincoln, Neb.
The Miami Marlins have recently expressed interest in Chamberlain, so the Dodgers may have some competition if they're seriously considering him. Los Angeles desperately needs an upgrade to their bullpen, which ranked 22nd in ERA (3.80), 15th in opponents' batting average (.239) and 25th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.25). However, Dodgers' president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said the team wanted to make sure the bullpen cut down on walks, and Chamberlain's career 2.45 strikeout-to-walk ratio may not fit the bill when all is said and done.
Despite the overhaul the Dodgers experience this offseason, their bullpen is still a glaring weakness that they'll need to improve before Opening Day.
