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Yankees Rumors: New York In On Kenley Jansen

By Kenneth Teape

Oct 22, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen (74) throws against the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning of game six of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen (74) throws against the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning of game six of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Yankees rumors: The Bronx Bombers are reportedly in the running for elite closer Kenley Jansen.

New York Yankees rumors continue to fly as the MLB Winter Meetings got underway today. The Yankees have been looking for bullpen help, being connected to Boone Logan. They have also been rumored to be in the market for one of the elite closers available.

The Yankees have been connected to their former closer, Aroldis Chapman. The Yankees acquired Chapman from the Cincinnati Reds last offseason before flipping him to the Chicago Cubs at the MLB Trade Deadline. They have been interested in bringing him back, and he would love to return to New York.

But, he is reportedly not the only closer on the Yankees radar. According to Jim Bowden of ESPN, the Yankees are one of six teams in on Jansen. His own team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, are involved along with the Washington Nationals, Miami Marlins, San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs.

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It is fair to question the seriousness of interest in some of those teams mentioned. The Giants reportedly have agreed to a deal with Mark Melancon, the last of the three elite closers available. If that is true, the Giants are probably out of the running for Jansen and the other dominos will begin to fall in short order.

It is interesting to see the Marlins on that list as they do not have as deep of pockets as the other teams involved. But owner Jeffrey Loria seems ready to surpass a $100 million payroll for just the second time in franchise history to land an elite closer.

It makes sense that there are a wide range of teams looking to land someone of the caliber of Jansen. He is as good as they come at the end of games and has been a dominant weapon for the Dodgers since being made the closer in 2012.

Jansen has pitched in 252 save situations in his career. In those situations he has an ERA of 2.10, WHIP of 0.86 and 381 strikeouts in 248 1/3 innings. This past season he was as dominant as ever with a 1.83 ERA, 0.67 WHIP with 104 strikeouts and only 11 walks in 68 2/3 innings, recording 47 saves along the way.

Jansen will be a difference maker for whoever ends up signing him this winter. He has recorded at least 100 strikeouts in three of the last four seasons and has become one of the best late-inning options in the MLB.

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If the Yankees are able to land him they will have an outstanding one-two punch with Jansen and set-up man Dellin Betances. Expect the Yankees to continue looking to bullpen arms beyond the elite closers; they need help in middle relief as well.

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