Rafael Soriano
Time for the Dodgers to lock up Kenley Jansen to a long-term deal
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...
Related "Rafael Soriano" Articles
Time for the Dodgers to lock up Kenley Jansen to a long-term deal
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...
Dodgers Dugout: Was Ron Roenicke hired to make Don Mattingly nervous?
Hi, welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell, and I’m wondering if the Dodgers should consider putting Zack Greinke at second base and batting him third on his non-pitching days.
Manager in waiting?
The Dodgers announced
Tampa Bay Rays claim Daniel Nava off waivers
The Tampa Bay Rays have claimed outfielder Daniel Nava off waivers from the Boston Red Sox and optioned outfielder Mikie Mahtook to triple-A Durham.
The switch-hitting Nava, 32, batted .152 in 29 games with Boston this season. He also missed 48 games...
Detroit Tigers' Justin Verlander will make first start Saturday
Detroit's Justin Verlander is set to make his first start for the Tigers this season against the Cleveland Indians on Saturday.
The 2011 AL most valuable player and Cy Young Award winner has been sidelined all season after leaving a March 27 spring...
Troy Tulowitzki's status puts Rockies GM Jeff Bridich in a bind
You have to feel for Jeff Bridich.
He is six weeks into his first season as general manager of the Colorado Rockies, a team that has finished at least 18 games out of first place four years running. In the middle of an 11-game losing streak, the agent...
Angels get a deal, but not a steal, in Huston Street's new contract
The consensus is that the Angels got a pretty nice bargain on Wednesday, when they signed closer Huston Street to a two-year contract extension for a guaranteed $18 million. Street gave up a chance at a better deal elsewhere to stay in Anaheim.
The...
Who else thinks Dodgers' Hyun-Jin Ryu won't last the season?
Somewhat lost in all the hubbub of the Dodgers signing Cuban Hector Olivera for $62.5 million Tuesday was the health update on Hyun-Jin Ryu.
Which basically was, he’s the same as he was before. He’ll be rested for
A case for Dodgers to sign Rafael Soriano or Francisco Rodriguez
Let’s keep this simple, because clearly that’s what so many of you do best. When people consider the Dodgers, what is universally considered the organization’s greatest asset?
Moola!
A well of wealth so deep that no one is certain where it ends. It...
Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen to start season on DL after foot surgery
Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen will start the season on the disabled list as he recovers from a foot operation he underwent Tuesday. Jansen is expected to be sidelined for eight to 12 weeks, meaning he could miss as many as the first five weeks of the...
Dodgers' Kenley Jansen out up to three months following foot surgery
The Dodgers closer on opening day will be ... someone other than Kenley Jansen.
The Dodgers announced Tuesday night that Jansen had undergone surgery to remove a growth from a bone in his left foot and will be out eight to 12 weeks.
Jansen was the one...
The Times' baseball rankings
Last week’s ranking in parentheses, statistics are through Friday’s games:
1. ANGELS: If Chris Iannetta had more plate appearances, his .385 OBP would tie for third in the AL. (1)
2. BALTIMORE: Seven with at least 10 HR: N. Cruz, C. Davis, A. Jones,...
Texas shuts down Yu Darvish for the season
Texas ace Yu Darvish will not pitch again this season, General Manager Jon Daniels said Saturday. The 28-year-old right-hander, a three-time All-Star, has not pitched since Aug. 9 because of elbow inflammation. He finishes 10-7 with a 3.06 ERA and 182...
Nationals pound Roberto Hernandez in 6-4 win over Dodgers
The stretch drive called, and the Dodgers kind of yawned. Not exactly the desired response.
Not with the San Francisco Giants suddenly hot as a Death Valley Labor Day and the Washington Nationals in town trying to claim best-record status in the National...
Angels bullpen has room for two aces: Huston Street and Joe Smith
Joe Smith looked genuinely confused.
The Angels had just polished off a third consecutive win against the Detroit Tigers. Smith and Huston Street had each pitched three-up, three-down innings to seal the game — Smith the eighth, Street the ninth.
The...
The Times' baseball rankings
Last week’s ranking in parentheses, statistics are through Friday’s games:
1. Athletics: No money? They have gone longer into season without using a rookie than any team since 1971 Orioles.
2. Angels: Franchise rookies with two 10-strikeout games: Bo...
The Times' baseball rankings
Last week's rankings in parentheses, statistics are through Friday's games:
1. DETROIT: Tigers start May off by winning 6 of 8 as Martinez, Cabrera combine to hit .338 with 5 HRs, 16 RBIs (1)
2. SAN FRANCISCO: Giants lose top power threat Brandon Belt...
Zack Greinke, Dodgers are left all wet in Washington
Dodger catcher Drew Butera says teammate Zack Greinke is a student of the game.
“I follow the statistics,” Greinke admitted. “But not to the extreme.”
Yet even a cursory familiarity with the numbers was probably enough to give Greinke a grasp of the...
The Times' Major League Baseball rankings
Kevin Baxter ranks the 30 teams. Last week’s ranking in parentheses, statistics are through Friday’s games:
1. MILWAUKEE: Brewers haven’t won 17 of first 23 games since 1987. They also lead MLB with 15 sacrifice bunts. (1)
2. ATLANTA: Braves (2.19...
Andre Ethier powers Dodgers past Nationals, 3-2
WASHINGTON — About month and a half ago, Andre Ethier spoke to Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly and the hitting coaches about how he wasn't making solid contact with the ball.
In that meeting, the group set a modest goal for the then-slumping outfielder:...
Andre Ethier, Dodgers start second half with 3-2 win over Nationals
By his standards, Andre Ethier had a fairly quiet first half. Not horrific, just not up to his standards.
He has willingly played every outfield position without complaint, but a .268 batting average, five home runs and 28 runs batted in in the first...