The Los Angeles Dodgers are built to win right now. That is why their offseason included acquisitions of shortstop Jimmy Rollins, second baseman Howie Kendrick that cost the team prospects. However, the Dodgers' win-now attitude could be in jeopardy after one of their key players has succumb to injury and will miss significant time.
The Dodgers announced via their public relations department (here via Jon Weisman of MLB.com) that closer Kenley Jansen will miss significant time.
This morning at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, Dodger pitcher Kenley Jansen underwent surgery to remove a growth from a bone in his left foot. This was discovered when Kenley reported discomfort while running last week. A subsequent X-Ray, MRI and CT scan showed the problem in the 5th metatarsal of his left foot. The surgery was performed by Drs. Earl Brien and David Thordarson under the direction of Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
Jansen will be on crutches for about 10 days and then a boot for 3-4 weeks. How he progresses during the rehab process will determine his return to competition, but it is expected to be approximately 8-12 weeks.
Even if Jansen is out 8-12 weeks as expected, there could be long-term repercussions to the injury.
A pitcher relies heavily on planting his feet. There is no guarantee that Jansen would return to form immediately upon his return. That creates a greater concern for the Dodgers going through the season; could the team afford to count on Jansen's return when they have put so much at stake in this season?
Enter the Phillies and Jonathan Papelbon. The Dodgers are thin on reliable closing experience. The bullpen features J.P. Howell, who saved 17 in 25 chances for the 2009 Rays. Howell does not have a save since. Brandon League was a disaster in 2013, blowing five saves in 21 chances en route to an obscene 5.30 ERA. Joel Peralta blew six saves for his one last season. Papelbon could step right in and the Dodgers would not miss a beat, at least opening the season as the Dodgers' closer.
The other options on the free agent market are Rafael Soriano and Francisco Rodriguez. Both want lucrative two-year deals. Should Papelbon's no-trade list be missing the Dodgers, the option would not be a guarantee. If Papelbon is pitching lights-out, he would not lose his closer's role to Jansen and vest his option. If he is not pitching effectively, the Dodgers could justify closing Jansen instead and Papelbon's option would not vest.
Three days ago there was a "mystery team" in on Jonathan Papelbon, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. The Dodgers very well may be it, since the Dodgers' own report stated that they knew of Jansen's injury last week. At the very least, if the Dodgers sign one of the two other closers (Soriano, Rodriguez) there will be one closer of three off the market while the Brewers and Blue Jays each need one.
The Phillies may have gotten lucky.
