Kenley Jansen, Dodgers reach $4.3-million deal, avoiding arbitration
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PHOENIX — On the day he avoided arbitration and agreed to a one-year, $4.3-million contract with the Dodgers, Kenley Jansen reflected back on how he went from a light-hitting minor-league catcher to the closer of baseball’s most expensive team.
“It goes fast,” Jansen said. “It’s unbelievable how stuff works that quick. Now, a million-dollar contract. That’s pretty awesome.”
Jansen was catching as recently as recently as 2009. That year, the Dodgers moved him to the mound. A year later, he was pitching in the major leagues. He firmly established himself as their closer last season.
Jansen was the Dodgers’ last remaining arbitration-eligible player. When the two sides exchanged salary figures, the Dodgers offered $3.5 million and Jansen asked for $5.05 million.
An arbitration hearing was scheduled for Feb. 18 and would have required Jansen to travel to Florida.
“I wanted to show my suit and tie,” Jansen joked.
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