The Los Angeles Dodgers have brought back their stud closer Kenley Jansen on a five-year, $80 million deal, according to Jim Bowden of ESPN on Twitter.
Former Met Justin Turner is also very close to returning to Los Angeles on a four-year pact that is expected to be completed today.
Jansen, 29, was one of the most coveted relief pitchers on the open market, and the single most sought after when Mark Melancon and Aroldis Chapman signed with the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees, respectively.
Jansen was linked to both the Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals, but instead will remain on the West Coast with the team that he has spent his entire seven-year career with.
In 2016, Jansen appeared in his first all-star game, pitching to a 3-2 record, with a 1.83 ERA and 47 saves in 71 games for the Dodgers.
Jansen has locked down 189 games for the Dodgers since making his major league debut in 2010.
The Dodgers are also progressing on a deal with Justin Turner, who has found his groove since joining Los Angeles in 2014 after being non-tendered by the Mets.
Turner, 32, launched 27 homers and drove in 90 runs in 151 games and 622 at-bats last season for the Dodgers, while hitting at a .275/.339/.493 clip.
In three seasons for the Dodgers, Turner has 50 round trippers, 193 RBIs and has a quality slash line of .296/.364/.492.
The re-signing of Kenley Jansen by the Dodgers is a big deal for the Mets, who avoid having one of the league’s best closers within the division.
As for Turner, the infielder is expected to have a big pay day after breaking out and becoming an all-star caliber player in the last three seasons.
Two more big dominoes have fallen, and the Nationals still don’t have a closer.
