Kershaw and Dodgers Agree to Terms for 18th Season
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Los Angeles Times
2 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Home again? Why Kenley Jansen could be a good trade match for Dodgers
Kenley Jansen signed his first professional contract with the Dodgers 21 years ago. He was Clayton Kershaw's catcher in rookie ball. He has been honored as an All-Star four times. He has saved more games than all but three men in major league history, all of them Hall of Famers. He won a World Series with the Dodgers. For all that Jansen has accomplished in his two decades in pro ball, there is one thing he has not experienced: He never has been traded. That could happen in the coming days, with baseball's trade deadline next Thursday. As we talked about that possibility Friday at Angel Stadium, and about how the sport can be a cold business at times, he dropped 11 words that stood out. 'I thought,' he said, 'I would play my whole career with the Dodgers.' Maybe you can go home again. The Dodgers are urgently shopping for right-handed relievers. In Anaheim, Jansen is enjoying a season that by some measures is his best since 2021, his last season with the Dodgers. First things first: Jansen did not sign with the Angels just to rack up saves. He is 36 saves shy of 500, a milestone reached only by Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman. 'I came here with one goal in mind,' Jansen said, 'and the goal was to help this team turn around, to end that playoff drought. That's what I'm here for. 'If they move me, I'd definitely feel disappointed we didn't accomplish it.' But let's be real: The longest playoff drought in the majors is likely to hit 11 years. The Angels would have to pass six teams to sneak into the last wild-card spot in the American League playoffs. The Angels demoted their fifth starter this month. They have been running bullpen games because they had no one in their farm system ready to fill the vacancy. They only have two starters you could pencil into their 2026 rotation. They need pitching depth, and it would be organizational malpractice not to get some by trading their pending free agents, Jansen included. For the Angels, the optimal outcome would be a team desperate for a closer overpaying to get Jansen. However, such a team would be more likely to overpay for the marquee names on the market, including Jhoan Duran of the Minnesota Twins, Emmanuel Clase of the Cleveland Guardians and Felix Bautista of the Baltimore Orioles, with a second tier led by David Bednar of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Ryan Helsley of the St. Louis Cardinals. The Dodgers hate to overpay. Jansen has 17 saves and one blown save, with a 1.00 earned-run average in save situations and a 3.19 ERA overall. The latter is his lowest ERA since 2021. By ERA+, a statistic that accounts for league and ballpark factors, Jansen was at 131 entering play Friday — or 31% better than league average. The only Dodgers relievers with an ERA above 131+, entering play Friday: left-handers Alex Vesia and Jack Dreyer. Dodgers relievers entered play Friday throwing 49.2% of the team's innings pitched; the highest percentage of any major league team. Vesia, Anthony Banda and the injured Tanner Scott rank among the top 20 in appearances. Ben Casparius, who earned his first major league save Friday, ranked second among major league relievers in innings pitched. In an ideal world, the Dodgers would enter the playoffs with four primary right-handed relievers: Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, Brusdar Graterol and Evan Phillips. Phillips is out for the season. Treinen could return from the injured list next week, with Kopech possibly to follow next month and Graterol in September, but it is risky to count on injured players to return healthy and effective. In a major league career that started in 2010, Jansen never has been on the injured list because of an elbow or forearm issue, and his two stints for shoulder inflammation were brief. The Dodgers could drop Jansen into their mix of high-leverage right-handers. They would not want Jansen if he would want to be the unquestioned closer. He is getting the job done as a closer, and he is getting closer to 500 saves. But the Dodgers' analysts would probably take note of his career highs in exit velocity and hard-hit balls, and a .795 OPS against left-handers that compares unfavorably to his .601 career mark, and might want to spot him against a run of right-handers. Could be the sixth inning, could be the ninth. Whether it's the Dodgers or any other contending team, would Jansen consider a role outside the ninth inning? 'At that point, it's just about getting rings,' Jansen said. 'My goal is to win. You play for that, always. I understand there is a milestone I am close to. But, at the end of the day, it's what you play for. You play to win. You play to win a World Series. 'If I have to go throw the sixth, seventh, eighth, I would do it. I'm a professional. I would do what I do best, and that is pitch.' Jansen said he hasn't given up on this Angels team, or this Angels season. He would love to win in Anaheim. The Angels could help him do that: Trade him for another pitching piece that could help them next year, then sign Jansen again over the winter.
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Letters to Sports: Time for Dodgers to make some changes
Between Mookie Betts hustling down the first-base line and Freddie Freeman's walk-off hit, Wednesday's Dodger victory over the Twins brought back great memories of last year's World Series. Hopefully this game will be a catalyst for getting the Dodgers out of the funk they have been in. Moving six-time right field Gold Glover Betts back to right (although his defense at short has been fine) would also propel the Dodgers to — as Tommy Lasorda used to say — taste the fruits of victory more often. Ken FeldmanTarzana Bill Plaschke and Dylan Hernández, where are you guys when we really need you? Why aren't you beating the drum loudly and repeatedly for the return of Mookie Betts to right field? Yeah, I know Mookie says it's not a factor in his slump. Would he ever admit that? Of course not. And Dave Roberts agrees … publicly, but I'd bet privately he feels otherwise. It was a lame idea to begin with. Who did they need to make room for out there, the next Ted Willams? And currently they have someone in Miguel Rojas who's probably a better fielder and at the moment even a better hitter. Please get the front office to do what's right before it's too late. Jack WishardLos Angeles No relief here I have never seen a bullpen for a pro baseball team that walked as many batters as the current one for the Dodgers. A relief pitcher who can't throw strikes is like a teacher who can't read. Unless this 'Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight' gets replacements and reinforcements soon they may have trouble making the postseason before it is all over, let alone repeating their championship. Alan AbajianAlta Loma Unfortunately, the Dodgers are not impervious to injury issues. The last time I checked, all teams experience injuries. Hopefully the team will deal with the issues rather than finding excuses as to why they're no longer 'baseball's evil empire.' Patrick KelleyLos Angeles My grandmother said she would like to pitch for the Dodgers. I think she will fit right in. Deborah R. IshidaBeverly Hills Old news Just like the Lakers, the Clippers get their own 40-year-old player in Chris Paul. The Clippers always emulate the Lakers minus the results. Wayne MuramatsuCerritos On second thought Regarding the Chargers trying to curry favor and regain the loyalty of their old San Diego fans, some advice:If you want to keep your fans, don't ditch your hometown! Jack WolfWestwood History lesson As I watched the majesty and uniqueness of "The Open" golf championship, my thoughts were of the man who saved this masterpiece of golf from becoming irrelevant. In the late 1950's, most PGA pros were starting to skip this tournament because of the relatively low purse and significant travel involved. Interest in this championship was waning. Then, Arnold Palmer came along and changed everything! In 1960, he traveled to the Open and continued to do so every year for many years during the peak period of his popularity,. As a result, "The Open" maintained its place as one of the four majors of golf and the rest is history. William R. FadoPacific Palisades Thank your lucky stars The WNBA All Stars wearing T-shirts demanding more money has redefined the word delusional. Since its inception, the WNBA has hemorrhaged money and been subsidized by the NBA. But for the fortuity of the Caitlin Clark phenomenon, the league would likely be bankrupt, not adding expansion teams and signing a lucrative new TV deal. Some free advice: Protect your cash cow (Clark), rather than killing it for hamburgers. Mark S. RothPlaya Vista Speaking of All-Stars Another 'action packed' WNBA All-Star Game with airballs, unneeded extra steps, inactive officiating, distracted announcers, and no defense. Just like the NBA. David MarshallSanta Monica The Los Angeles Times welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and become the property of The Times. They may be edited and republished in any format. Each must include a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms will not be used. Email: sports@ Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
32 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Letters to Sports: Time for Dodgers to make some changes
Between Mookie Betts hustling down the first-base line and Freddie Freeman's walk-off hit, Wednesday's Dodger victory over the Twins brought back great memories of last year's World Series. Hopefully this game will be a catalyst for getting the Dodgers out of the funk they have been in. Moving six-time right field Gold Glover Betts back to right (although his defense at short has been fine) would also propel the Dodgers to — as Tommy Lasorda used to say — taste the fruits of victory more often. Ken FeldmanTarzana Bill Plaschke and Dylan Hernández, where are you guys when we really need you? Why aren't you beating the drum loudly and repeatedly for the return of Mookie Betts to right field? Yeah, I know Mookie says it's not a factor in his slump. Would he ever admit that? Of course not. And Dave Roberts agrees … publicly, but I'd bet privately he feels otherwise. It was a lame idea to begin with. Who did they need to make room for out there, the next Ted Willams? And currently they have someone in Miguel Rojas who's probably a better fielder and at the moment even a better hitter. Please get the front office to do what's right before it's too late. Jack WishardLos Angeles I have never seen a bullpen for a pro baseball team that walked as many batters as the current one for the Dodgers. A relief pitcher who can't throw strikes is like a teacher who can't read. Unless this 'Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight' gets replacements and reinforcements soon they may have trouble making the postseason before it is all over, let alone repeating their championship. Alan AbajianAlta Loma Unfortunately, the Dodgers are not impervious to injury issues. The last time I checked, all teams experience injuries. Hopefully the team will deal with the issues rather than finding excuses as to why they're no longer 'baseball's evil empire.' Patrick KelleyLos Angeles My grandmother said she would like to pitch for the Dodgers. I think she will fit right in. Deborah R. IshidaBeverly Hills Just like the Lakers, the Clippers get their own 40-year-old player in Chris Paul. The Clippers always emulate the Lakers minus the results. Wayne MuramatsuCerritos Regarding the Chargers trying to curry favor and regain the loyalty of their old San Diego fans, some advice: If you want to keep your fans, don't ditch your hometown! Jack WolfWestwood As I watched the majesty and uniqueness of 'The Open' golf championship, my thoughts were of the man who saved this masterpiece of golf from becoming irrelevant. In the late 1950's, most PGA pros were starting to skip this tournament because of the relatively low purse and significant travel involved. Interest in this championship was waning. Then, Arnold Palmer came along and changed everything! In 1960, he traveled to the Open and continued to do so every year for many years during the peak period of his popularity,. As a result, 'The Open' maintained its place as one of the four majors of golf and the rest is history. William R. FadoPacific Palisades The WNBA All Stars wearing T-shirts demanding more money has redefined the word delusional. Since its inception, the WNBA has hemorrhaged money and been subsidized by the NBA. But for the fortuity of the Caitlin Clark phenomenon, the league would likely be bankrupt, not adding expansion teams and signing a lucrative new TV deal. Some free advice: Protect your cash cow (Clark), rather than killing it for hamburgers. Mark S. RothPlaya Vista Another 'action packed' WNBA All-Star Game with airballs, unneeded extra steps, inactive officiating, distracted announcers, and no defense. Just like the NBA. David MarshallSanta Monica The Los Angeles Times welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and become the property of The Times. They may be edited and republished in any format. Each must include a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms will not be used. Email: sports@
