Dodgers interested in Jim Johnson

The Baltimore Orioles could deal closer Jim Johnson this winter, and the Los Angeles Dodgers appear to be in the mix, according to FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal. Johnson has one year of arbitration eligibility remaining, and is slated to become a free agent following the end of next season.

Sources: #Orioles trying hard to trade Jim Johnson, #Dodgers in mix. Johnson projected to earn more than $10M in arbitration.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 2, 2013

Sources: #Orioles continue to work on trading Jim Johnson. #Dodgers involved, along with another, unspecified club.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 3, 2013

Johnson, a 2012 All-Star, has been among the best relievers in baseball over the past few years, with a 156 ERA+ and 6.6 WAR since the beginning of 2011. He has spent the last two of those years as the Orioles' closer, leading all of baseball with 101 saves during that span.

The Dodgers' interest is somewhat intriguing as they already have an elite closer in Kenley Jensen who put up a 190 ERA+ in 76.2 innings last year. Of course, the addition of Johnson would force one of them to a set-up role, likely Jansen considering the projected cost to acquire Johnson and Jansen's prior success in a non-closing role.

Adding Johnson would certainly bolster Los Angeles' bullpen, as aside from Jansen, the team has just one reliever (Paco Rodriguez) under contract for 2014 that threw at least 20 innings with a 100 ERA+ or better last year.

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