The Marlins are perhaps the most surprising team bidding on the offseason’s top free agent closers, though other teams believe Miami is ready to back up its desire for a bullpen upgrade with some serious money. According to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal (Twitter link), rival teams believe the Marlins are willing to offer Kenley Jansen five years and $80MM. Since Jansen rejected the Dodgers’ qualifying offer, signing the closer would also cost Miami their first-round draft pick (14th overall), but the Fish are prepared to lose that pick to bring Jansen into the fold. The Marlins themselves say they’re still discussing the matter.
Jansen was first linked to the Marlins a few weeks ago, with MLBTR’s Steve Adams noting that it was just one offseason ago that the Fish signed a big qualifying offer free agent in the form of Wei-Yin Chen (who was also, interestingly, signed to a five-year, $80MM contract). Miami also had to surrender a draft pick to sign Chen, though it was only a second-rounder, as the team’s first-round pick was protected. It would be a much taller order to surrender the 14th overall selection, which is why perhaps it’s somewhat curious that the Marlins seem to be primarily targeting Jansen over Aroldis Chapman or Mark Melancon, both of whom were dealt last season and thus weren’t subject to the qualifying offer.
While five years and $80MM would be the biggest contract ever signed by a closer (at least until Chapman signs), it is actually a bit less than MLBTR’s projection for Jansen, which was five years and $85MM. Chapman was pegged at five years/$90MM and Melancon for four years/$52MM, though Melancon has reportedly already received four-year offers topping $60MM from the Nationals, Giants and an unknown third team, who could possibly be the Marlins. If Miami is indeed the mystery team, I wonder if the Marlins would perhaps just boost their offer to Melancon (to $65MM? $70MM?) with the logic that it would still be cheaper than what they’re reportedly willing to give up both financially and draft-wise to land Jansen.
Though the Marlins have a larger need in the rotation than in the bullpen, the team’s plan is to double down on its relief strength in order to shorten games and take pressure off its pen. The Fish have already signed Edinson Volquez and they’ve been linked to such other relatively inexpensive starting options as Doug Fister, C.J. Wilson, Travis Wood and Dillon Gee as they look to rebuild the rotation on a budget while saving its big dollars for an ace closer.
They really think theyre that close? Unless they plan to flip him at the deadline…. their SP needs some serious work. But they would have a fantastic bullpen and go for an arm or two in July. And maybe a prospect emerges.
Yelich, Gordon, stanton, ozuna and realmuto are nails. And bour is a bambam. Maybe they are closer than we think. NL east going to be a tough division this year. Maybe the best top to bottom.
they can have all the boom boom they desire, but without pitching they will be irrelevant .
So, they will be trading him next year ala heath bell?
He’ll suck after two years… don’t pay relievers big bucks… too inconsistent, even someone who has been pretty consistent throughout his career
If the choice is 4 yrs 60+ for Melancon or 5 yr 80 for Jansen…. gotta go Jansen
Not sure if this is a “too soon” kind of question but here it is.
When Fernandez died, did the Marlins get any financial assistance? Through either insurance placed on the player or compensation from the league of some sort.
If they did receive funds were there any stipulations on how those funds were to be allocated (directly into MLB roster, scouting, etc.) or is it as Miami pleases?
Absolutely insurance aid.
Sure but you’d have to assume such aid would be negated upon the death being a result of illegal activity. With traces of cocaine and his blood alcohol level one has to reason that insurance money or compensation would be almost impossible to recover.
not if he wasn’t the driver.
Also, i think putting a competitive product on the field will help Marlins fans cope with the loss of Jose a little easier. Especially if they make the playoffs.
If I’m Jansen I’d stay as far away from the Marlins as possible. Loria is such a snake, I’m honestly clueless as to why any top free agent would wanna sign there. Unleas they’re paying 15-20 million more than the next team is offering. miami is a nice place but other than that I find no appeal for playing for an owner like that.
I have felt that way too. If contract offers are similar, any sane free agent would/should steer clear of signing with Miami.
The city of Miami is why
This smells like a “leaked story” as a play in the Chapman market. If the Yankees aren’t willing to go passed 3, but the Marlins are willing to go 5 that has to be given serious consideration. It makes a lot of sense with the Cuban connection. The Marlins get their closer and a morbid sort of fascination in filling in for the electricity Fernandez brought plus no draft pick attached. This also seems to be a leak to drive up the market for Jansen. That frees them up to trade from their pen to collect some assists to fill some prospects for their eventual needs.
Lol keep trying both Chapman and the Yankees want a reunion and I basically haven’t seen another front runner for his services
I never said it was a successful leak. I just said it smelled. That being said if Yankees stay at 3 years and there is staggering difference in money believe Chapmans packing his bags for south beach. We’ll see what occurs here. The early rumblings don’t matter much at all if at the end of day they offer the most money. Chapman has won his WS and it’s time for him to get paid.
But Chapman can pack his bags but if the Marlins are not offering him a contract where is he packing his bags to go ti?
Back to Florida since he lives in Florida.
You make no sense. How is it a leak to drive the Chapman Market? And how is it a leak to drive the Jansen Market when the “leak” is for less money then was predicted
If the Marlins are offering 5 years in which the Yankees have been reluctant to go to and the Dodgers more likely at 4 you can use your deductive reasoning. What do the predictions matter? They are essentially just a fun fact for fans. The contract is going to be dictated by the market. But using your logic Jansen was predicted around 85/5. So it’d be easy to see how a leak of a team starting at 80 could easily start a bidding war.
And yes Frisaro has reported the Marlins are going to make a push for Chapman.
The contract would be heavily back loaded and there wouldn’t be a no trade clause. You can figure out the rest.
He would be getting roughly $75,000 per out he records.
Gotta load up quality pieces for the next fire sale.
What’s the difference between “willing to offer” and “have offered?”