The closer signing trifecta is complete

As pitchers who often only pitch one inning, they were expected to get big dollars and they sure did. When the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to re-sign closer Kenley Jansen yesterday, the trifecta of closer signings was complete.

It started when the San Francisco Giants added right-hander Mark Melancon on a four-year deal worth $62 million. Then lefty Aroldis Chapman returned to the New York Yankees on a five-year deal worth $86 million, which became the largest contract ever given to a closer.

So Chapman's average annual value is $17.2 million, while Jansen is at $16 million and Melancon at $15.5 million. Some of the Cy Young Award voters who didn't believe Zach Britton should win the award because he "only" 70 innings are probably having some issues with these deals.

But the team managements seem to value the guy that excels at getting the last three outs. Not anyone can do it, and as reliever salaries are escalating, the closers are showing the way. Like an umpire, you often only notice a closer when he blows the game.

Britton is projected to make $11.4 million in arbitration. If he gets an arbitration raise to say $14.5 million or so in 2017, he would earn about $26 million for this past season and next season. That would still make him look like a pitcher signed for good value (at $13 million per) compared to the big three from this winter.

Britton's price, less than those three, is another reason he might bring a major haul in a trade. Not to mention his exceptional talent and the season he produced in 2016. But the Orioles insist they will look to build and add to the talent around Britton and not trade him.

Fans have been debating this all offseason. The price of closers is rising fast and a few teams - including Washington and Florida - are still looking for one after the signings of Chapman, Jansen and Melancon.

Brady brings the big bucks: Major League Baseball, MLB Advanced Media, MLB Network and all 30 MLB Clubs raised more than $235,000 via online bids and personal donations through the "Play Ball" Charity Auction. It was launched during last week's Winter Meetings to go toward the renovation of an existing youth baseball and softball field in memory of late New York Mets public relations executive Shannon Forde.

This year's charity auction total marked the most money raised since the initiative's inception in 2012, eclipsing last year's record-high amount. This effort has now raised more than $900,000 for causes related to cancer.

We mentioned in this space last week about some of the experiences involving members of the Orioles organization. And a spring training workout and lunch with Brady Anderson was one of the auction's most popular items, going for a bid of $7,075.