The Detroit Tigers have made an exciting move by securing veteran closer Kenley Jansen through a one-year contract, as reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan. This agreement is pending a physical examination and also includes a club option that could extend into the 2027 season.
At 38 years old, Jansen stands out as the active leader in Major League Baseball for saves, boasting an impressive total of 476 saves during his 16-year career. He is now just two saves shy of matching Hall of Famer Lee Smith, who holds third place on the all-time saves leaderboard.
With Jansen's arrival, the Tigers are looking to enhance their bullpen, which has been operating without a designated closer under the management of A.J. Hinch. Last season, Will Vest led the team with 23 saves but began to lose save opportunities towards the end of the season to Kyle Finnegan, who was acquired midseason from the Washington Nationals.
In the previous season, Jansen had a strong performance, finishing with a record of 5 wins and 4 losses, along with an impressive 2.59 ERA. He successfully converted 29 out of 30 save attempts over the course of 62 games with the Los Angeles Angels. Notably, Jansen finished the season on a high note, converting all of his last 14 save opportunities and not allowing a hit in his final 10 innings pitched across ten appearances.
Jansen has expressed his desire to continue playing, stating that he is not contemplating retirement and aims to play for another four years. This will mark the fifth team he has joined in the past six seasons, and he is the second reliever the Tigers have secured this month, following the re-signing of Kyle Finnegan to a two-year deal during the winter meetings.
What do you think about the Tigers' decision to bring Jansen on board? Could this be the missing piece they need for a stronger bullpen, or do you believe their focus should be elsewhere? Share your thoughts!
