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Dodgers news: Grading their off-season moves

By Evan Lovett

Oct 18, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill (44) reacts after a strike out during the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs in game three of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill (44) reacts after a strike out during the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs in game three of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 3, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen (74) earns a save in the ninth inning of the game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. Dodgers won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen (74) earns a save in the ninth inning of the game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. Dodgers won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Analysis: This move was a necessity. If there was any question about Jansen’s dominance – and there should not have been, based on the seven years of Dodgers dominance and career 2.20 ERA – they were assuaged in the postseason.

Jansen pitched more than one inning in six of his seven appearances, including a hitless three-inning, four-strikeout performance in the clinching game of the NLDS vs. the Washington Nationals.

Jansen is as under-the-radar as a player in Los Angeles can be, tallying 127 saves over the past three seasons (second in the National league over that time span to Mark Melancon). The comparisons to Mariano Rivera are not hyperbole; $16 million per season is a fair figure for a closer of this magnitude.

Also worth noting — Jansen was married over the off-season, and being around Justin Turner, Yasiel Puig and Scott Van Slyke reaffirmed Jansen’s commitment to being a Dodger, and to enhancing the relationship of his teammates.

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