November 9th, 2016 at 9:39 am 
by Ron Cervenka Every Dodger (and baseball) fan on the planet is well aware that Gold Glove runner-up third baseman Justin Turner and closer Kenley Jansen became free agents with the final out of the just-concluded 2016 World Series, as did relative newcomers Rich Hill and Josh Reddick. But what many Dodger fans may not realize is that there are 12 other Dodgers who became free agents as well, and this doesn’t include the many Dodgers minor leaguers who are also now free agents.
According to spotrac.com, here is a list of the Dodgers who are now free agents:
(Image courtesy of spotrac.com – Click on image to enlarge)
Now granted, several on this list did not play for the big club during the 2016 season and will, in all likelihood, not be re-signed by the team. But there are several – including Turner, Jansen, Hill and Reddick – that the Dodgers should at least consider making a competitive offer to, such as Chase Utley, Joe Blanton, Jesse Chavez and perhaps even J.P. Howell, who could probably be re-signed relatively cheaply.
After his painfully slow start with the Dodgers, right fielder Josh Reddick finished the 2016 season hitting .258 with two home runs and nine RBIs in the 47 games in which he appeared with his new team. However, his combined 2016 average was .281 with 10 home runs and 37 RBIs. (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)
It has been mentioned by a number of so-called baseball experts that the San Francisco Giants will probably make a play for Jansen. And while this would cost the Dodgers’ chief rivals their 2017 first round draft pick, not having a reliable closer is exactly what kept them from making it to the postseason and another shot at that even year nonsense that Giants fans are (were) so enamored by. As such, it is quite conceivable that Giants general manager Bobby Evans might be willing to give up their first round pick to fill what was – and still is – their biggest weakness and greatest need. In fact, even if the Giants are not in on Jansen, they have also already expressed an interest in Cubs World Series hero closer Aroldis Chapman, who is also now a free agent but would not cost the Giants (or anyone else) a draft pick since he was a mid-season acquisition.
As noted on the above list, the Dodgers have made one-year / $17.2 million Qualifying Offers (QO) to both Turner and Jansen, which both are expected to decline in favor of testing their well-earned free agency. And though it would be absolutely wonderful if both of these huge fan-favorites were re-signed by the Dodgers (as free agents), the cold, hard and painful truth is that Dodger fans better prepare themselves that neither may be returning to their beloved team. That being said, whereas losing Jansen would be a tremendous loss for the Dodgers, losing Turner would be absolutely devastating to the four-time consecutive National League West champions. There is simply no better free agent third base option out there and a trade for the likes of Evan Longoria would cost the Dodgers a boatload of their top prospects.
Although the 2016-2017 Hot Stove season is barely a week old, the Dodgers would be well advised not to drag their feet in making competitive free agency offers to Turner, Jansen, Hill and Reddick; because if history has taught us anything about free agents, it has taught us that the the best ones generally go first and fast.
Pay these men, Andrew … and pay them now.
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IMO, concentrate on Turner and Jansen (or Melancon/Chapman) and write off Reddick and Hill. Ethier better than Reddick and Hill has a horrible injury history comparable to Brett Anderson.
Hello SoCal! I have contacted mlb.com and are working on my case. I concur here except Dodgers MUST address hitting against LHP or the same will happen again as far as being bombarded with LHP against us.
I hope the Dodgers will let Turner and Jansen see how much they’re worth on the open market and match or better the highest offer. I still say that a postseason team should try to return to it with as many of there personal as possible, regardless of the cost.
Chapman wouldn’t cost his signing team their first round draft pick since he was traded mid-season, as I get it. Same for Melancon.
Since Kenley would if he doesn’t re-up with the Dodgers, it may help LA’s chances with him. Other 2 may sign before KJ.
You are correct. My bad.
I wouldn’t consider paying huge money to Chapman both because of his domestic abuse issues and more so because anyone who throws consistently over 100mph is bound to get injured and likely sooner than later.
Since there is NO 3Bman comparable to Turner other than one we’d have to trade a truckload of good prospects for, I’d say let’s pay him and perhaps negotiate a home town discount (if such really exists) or ask to defer monies long term.
As for Jansen, I’d love to have him back but the front office including Mark Walker has made it clear they are loathe to pay big money to pitchers because they “break” – witness Zack Greinke. And as it happens, not signing him worked out well for us, at least last year. We were all wringing our hands over that decision but it turned out to be the right one. Andrew has had a while to survey their in-house talent. If there’s a potential closer or two among them, he’s already found them.
Now the real question is what to do about hitters that can rake against left handers and once you find them are they gettable?
Assuming that 1 3b is Longoria: Friedman is avoiding signing players to contracts that take them beyond their prime years. So why would he trade for somebody who already has such a contract? I believe his contract is 6+1 (player option). That means they pay him through age 38.
Remember too, there is the option of getting a SS and moving Corey to 3B.
Even better, sign JT. Better still, sign Kenley too.
I do agree with fiscally sound contracts. If it requires too many years, like Zack’s did, let him go.
My hope is both Turner and Jansen re-sign, sooner than later. If Turner is not re-signed I will not be surprised for Dodgers to go with a platoon at 3b rather than trading highly regarded prospects for an equivalent third baseman. Dodgers could go with a platoon of Culberson and signing either Stephen Drew or Daniel Descalso or trading for Marlins Dietrich to face RH’ers. This could work IF Dodgers acquire a power, RH bat who crushes LH pitching. Another RH power bat option for Dodgers is to acquire Wilmer Flores and use him in the inf against LH pitching.