With MLB free agency still in its infancy, several marquee players remain available. The Los Angeles Dodgers had key contributors Rich Hill, Kenley Jansen and Justin Turner hit the open market, with each garnering plenty of interest.
The crop of available starting pitchers pales in comparison to last winter, Jansen is one of three elite closers on the open market, and Turner is the top third baseman available. Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi acknowledged the club views re-signing the trio, plus Joe Blanton, as a top priority.
Speaking from the same General Manager meetings, New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman said the organization intends to reach out to Hill and Jansen, per Brendan Kuty of NJ.com:
General manager Brian Cashman said on Tuesday that he intends to reach out to the agents for lefty Rich Hill, a 37-year-old considered the best on the starter market.
He added that he’s already checked in with the agent of closer Kenley Jansen and will check in with Mark Melancon. Jansen, Melancon and Aroldis Chapman round of the three biggest closer names available this offseason. Each is expected to command a huge salary.
The Yankees entered this season with a vaunted trio of Dellin Betances, Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller. However, it didn’t equate to success, and Champan and Miller were traded prior to the Aug. 1 non-waiver deadline.
Jansen converted 47 saves with a 1.83 ERA and 0.67 WHIP this season. He finished tied for second in the Majors in saves, and led qualified National League closers in WHIP and strikeouts (104). Jansen also broke the Dodgers’ franchise record for most career saves, surpassing Eric Gagne.
The 29-year-old earned his first All-Star Game honors, was named to Sporting News’ NL All-Star team, and received the 2016 Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year Award.
Should the Yankees, or a club other than the Dodgers, sign Jansen, it would require them to forfeit a pick in the 2017 Draft as he was extended the one-year, $17.2 million qualifying offer.
There isn’t the same impediment with signing Hill, though he’s 36 years old and is coming off a season in which he was hampered by lingering blisters. The southpaw went 3-2 with a 1.83 ERA in six starts with the Dodgers.
Overall this season Hill finished 12-5 with a 2.12 ERA, 2.39 FIP and 0.99 WHIP in 20 starts. The Dodgers reportedly had interest in re-signing Hill to a multiyear contract prior to free agency beginning.
