Dodgers eyeing more than just elite closer

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The Dodgers need a closer and Mark Melancon came off the board at the Winter Meetings on Monday, signing a four-year deal with the division-rival Giants.

But Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, indicated Melancon wasn’t his Plan A, especially with franchise saves leader Kenley Jansen and triple-digit specialist Aroldis Chapman still available.

“There are a number of guys on the trade market and two elite guys on the free-agent market and everything is intertwined,” said Friedman.

Kansas City reliever Wade Davis emerged as a logical Dodgers trade target, with one year left on his contract at $10 million more appealing than the five-year, $100 million paydays Jansen and Chapman might approach.

But if you read between the lines, Friedman might have indicated that an “elite” closer is not necessarily essential to start a season, even though the expanded use of Jansen, Chapman and Cleveland’s Andrew Miller in the postseason might start a trend.

“Obviously, there’s been a lot written about relievers and usage, especially in playoffs,” he …

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