The team signed the veteran right-handed reliever to a 3-year, $22.5 million contract on Tuesday with a vesting option for 2016.
It really isn't the end of the world, despite what you may have read on Twitter. I will say isn't preferable to give a reliever three years, but don't go jumping off any bridges just quite yet.
We all knew this was coming, but there are worse ways to spend $22.5 million (not many, but see Uribe, Juan).
I've written about bringing back League on a couple of occasions (Oct. 9, Saturday).
League will apparently be the Dodgers' closer (with that type of money, I don't know why I was surprised). But this also raises the question: Are the Dodgers not sold on Kenley Jansen's long-term health?
Jansen had his heart procedure last week and is doing great. However, if the Dodgers don't think they can rely on him consistently, I understand the need to bring League back.
Money is obviously no object for this ownership group. While this deal is a Ned Colletti special, they gave him $10 million more than Matt Guerrier (younger, better pitcher, makes sense). This deal will not hamper the Dodgers' ability to add players down the road -- but it isn't a particularly good business practice to continue, either.
The Dodgers now have nine free agents, none of whom I especially I want to see back. I wouldn't be opposed to Randy Choate coming back, but everyone else can go elsewhere.
Photo credit: swswigart, Flickr
Dunno, I liked Jamey Wright for what he was. Another 1yr/1mil deal would be cool
ReplyDeleteThe procedure on Jansen isn't foolproof. Maybe 70-80% curative. That, and the fact that there's no need to have 'Just One Closer', makes signing League a good move.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Ned Colletti has made some pretty bonehead signings over the past several years, he is actually a very bright guy. He is definitely not a "wait and see" kind of guy, so when a player or pitcher is having issues (performance or physical), he will aggressively go after a replacement. Now this is not to say that he will throw the struggling guys away, quite the contrary, in fact. He usually finds a way to bring them back once they have resolved their issues. (The HUGE exception is, of course, Juan Uribe, who I still think has some compromising photographs of Colletti or some other serious dirt on him - why else would Colletti keep him - haha!).
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty safe to say that Kenley isn't going anywhere anytime soon and will (most likely) be a set up guy for Belisario and/or League. However, I also expect that Kenley will also be used as an occasional closer in the event that League needs some rest after after multiple appearances. So, too, with Beli and Guerra - in my opinion.