Why haven’t the Dodgers tried to sign Kenley Jansen to a long-term contract?
He can be a free agent at the end of the season, yet they have apparently made zero effort to sign him to a multiyear deal.
The Moneyball types have long disparaged long-term deals for closers. Lots of arguments – pitch in one-third as many innings as a starter, high attrition rate, usually a failed starter; and plenty examples of contracts gone wrong – Jonathan Papelbon, Joe Nathan, Rafael Soriano, Brandon League.
There are dominant closers who are exceptions – Mariano Rivera, Craig Kimbrel – but the Dodgers seemingly do not regard Jansen as such, which if nothing else, is bit mystifying.