Veteran closer Kenley Jansen is heading to the Angels on a $10 million deal that’ll keep him in the American League for another year.
At 37, Jansen’s still getting it done. He wrapped up 27 saves for the Red Sox last season, only blowing four chances along the way. His 3.29 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 54 2⁄3 innings show he’s still got plenty left in the tank.
This guy’s been one of baseball’s best for a long time. We’re talking about a four-time All-Star who’s now sitting fourth on the all-time saves list with 447.
He might even climb higher this year. Lee Smith’s third-place mark of 478 saves is just 31 away. While catching Mariano Rivera (652) or Trevor Hoffman (601) is probably out of reach, Jansen’s building quite a case for Cooperstown.
The Angels are getting a proven closer, something they’ve been missing since trading Carlos Estévez to the Phillies last season.
Young flamethrower Ben Joyce was in line for the closer’s role, but he’ll likely move to setup duties now. That’s probably better for his development anyway.
There’s just one catch: The Angels lost 99 games last year and aren’t looking much better for 2024. That means Jansen might not see as many save opportunities as he would with a contender.
He’s had some health challenges. A shoulder injury slowed him down last season, and he’s dealt with an irregular heartbeat over the years.
But when he’s on the mound? He’s still one of the more reliable closers in the game. Sure, he might not be the dominant force he was in his prime, but smart money says he’ll be shutting down games for the Angels all through 2024.
Unless, of course, they trade him at the deadline. But that’s a story for another day.
