Dodgers' Jansen frustrated by tanking: 1 team is competing to win NL East

Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen believes that tanking has become such an issue in Major League Baseball that he's already handing the Washington Nationals the division by default.

"There's one team competing for the title in the NL East," Jansen told Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.

The Nationals have won back-to-back division titles and four in the last six years. They were the only team in the NL East that finished with a winning record last year and just watched 2017 runner-ups the Miami Marlins completely dismantle their roster.

With the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies both still rebuilding, the New York Mets pose the biggest threat to the Nationals. The Mets signed Jay Bruce, Todd Frazier, Jason Vargas, and Anthony Swarzak for a combined $86 million this offseason, but are projected to finish well behind Washington. Though the Phillies spent $94 million in free agency this winter, they're still operating with the second-lowest payroll in the majors, while the Braves have signed one player for more than $2 million.

Jansen added that he thinks three teams are trying to compete in the NL West and two in the NL Central.

Though he singled out the NL East, it might not be the worst division in baseball. The American League Central features the Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, and Chicago White Sox - a trio of clubs that project to finish in the league's basement.

"I think they are competing for the championship of revenue (profit)," Jansen said of tanking teams. "... I think they don't care about the trophy. No disrespect, but we want to see more teams be competitive."

The 104-win Dodgers were one of three representatives from the NL West to reach the postseason in 2017, and the San Francisco Giants have since made a number of moves that should return them to contention. Even the San Diego Padres, who have endured seven straight losing seasons, signed Eric Hosmer to a eight-year, $144-million deal in February.