The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed two pitchers since closer Kenley Jansen underwent foot surgery, but neither of them are capable of immediately assuming ninth inning duties. Is it possible the team is exploring a trade for Philadelphia Phillies' closer Jonathan Papelbon?
Jansen is expected to miss 2-3 months following his surgery, which means he could be out until the middle of May. In the meantime, the Dodgers are going to need someone who is capable of closing games so they can ensure they don't get off to a slow start in 2015.
Francisco Rodriguez and Rafael Soriano have been speculated as potential candidates, but Rodriguez is now talking with the Milwaukee Brewers about a possible reunion and the market for Soriano has been nonexistent. The Phillies want a top prospect for Papelbon, who is owed $13 million in 2015 and will likely earn another $13 million in 2016 (vesting option) if he finishes 48 games this season. Although the Dodgers' new front office is likely not interested in making a two-year, $26 million commitment to a reliever, Papelbon will undoubtedly upgrade their bullpen that struggled mightily in 2014.
"The Dodgers have to either cobble together a closer from a heavily remade bullpen or sign one. They could trade for Jonathan Papelbon, but he would cost not only $13 million but probably a prized prospect also," writes Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times.
"If L.A. truly just wants a stopgap, Rodriguez is probably the choice. But if they're hedging their bets on Jansen and wants the better reliever, then Papelbon is the guy," writes Jon Stolnis of SB Nation. "But this should also serve as a reminder to all the nay-bobs who think the Phillies weren't proactive enough during the off-season in trading away their veterans. The Jansen injury isn't the last one we're going to see this spring. By being patient, the Phillies now have another team with whom they could engage in conversation about their closer."
Los Angeles could avoid giving up a top prospect if they offered to cover all of Papelbon's remaining dollars. The Brewers were in talks with the Phillies about a deal for Papelbon earlier in the offseason, but the two sides failed to agree on a combination of money and player compensation, likely because Milwaukee could not afford to potentially pay $26 million for the right-hander.
With nothing imminent in terms of pursuing Rodriguez or Soriano - although there were talks about interest in Joba Chamberlain - the Dodgers might be weighing the pros and cons of landing Papelbon. Imagine him as the team's closer with Jansen as the setup man and Joel Peralta as the seventh inning arm?
Los Angeles earned an NL West title in 2014 thanks to a 94-68 record, even with a terrible bullpen, which ranked 22nd in ERA (3.80), 29th in wins (18), 28th in walks (206), 25th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.25), 16th in strikeouts per nine innings (8.53) and 15th in opponents' batting average (.239).
Papelbon finished with a 2.04 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 63 strikeouts and 39 saves in 66 games (66 1/3 innings) and also had a good strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4.20, which is something president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman is looking for. This could be a possibility, especially if Jansen suffers a setback or is projected to miss more than the expected time.
