MLB Rumor Central

          MLB Rumor Central: Marlins targeting Kenley Jansen?

          The Marlins would reportedly consider pursuing free-agent closer Kenley Jansen if the market breaks in their favor. Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports
          • ESPN.com
          Nov 17, 2016, 04:55 PM ET

          The Miami Marlins have their eye on free-agent closer Kenley Jansen, reports Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, calling Jansen the Marlins' "top target."

          Rumor Central

          Ideally, Miami would like to upgrade its rotation, which has a major hole the team likely won't ever fill following the death of Jose Fernandez. It figures to be difficult for the Marlins to even come close to matching Fernandez's talent since, as Heyman writes, "there aren’t the types of starters available at reasonable cost to help them upgrade their rotation in a meaningful way."

          According to Heyman, the Marlins are instead looking to build a "super pen." The expanded use of relievers isn't an entirely outlandish notion given the use of Andrew Miller and, at one point, Jansen (Game 5 of the NL Division Series) outside of the typical closer's role in the postseason.

          Jansen had a career-high 47 saves and career-low 0.67 WHIP with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. The 29-year-old right-hander posted a 1.83 ERA in 71 appearances, striking out 104 batters in 68 2/3 innings. He was also named an All-Star for the first time.

          Jansen and Chicago Cubs left-hander Aroldis Chapman are considered the two top free-agent closers and are predicted to set the market value for their position with at least one of them likely to sign a record-breaking contract, writes ESPN's Jim Bowden. Heyman writes that the market would have to break in the Marlins' favor for Miami to pursue Jansen.

          The Marlins could have a geographic advantage in the Jansen sweepstakes since he's a native of Curacao and "might not mind Miami," Heyman writes. The Fish also have a managerial advantage: Don Mattingly was the manager of the Dodgers when Jansen's career began to take off.

          Jansen rejected a $17.2 million qualifying offer from the Dodgers, so the Marlins would have to surrender their first-round pick in the 2017 draft to Los Angeles. Miami is slated to have the 14th overall pick and "might be reluctant" to part with a first-rounder in their thin minor-league system, writes MLB.com's Joe Frisaro.

          --Alex Tekip