Dodgers Free Agency: Kenley Jansen Inks a New Deal This Offseason
The short-lived Kenley Jansen coooould return to the Dodgers era is over. The free agent closer has reportedly agreed to a multi-year deal with the Boston Red Sox. ESPN’s Jeff Passan was the first to report the contract.
Closer Kenley Jansen and the Boston Red Sox are in agreement on a two-year, $32 million contract, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 7, 2022
Jansen, who inked a one year deal with the Atlanta Braves last offseason, put together a fine season in 2022. He recorded 41 saves, tops in the National League, and posted a 3.38 ERA over 65 games.
After the Braves were bounced in the playoffs in October, Jansen returned to Los Angeles where he was asked by TMZ about a potential return to the Dodgers. He expressed an interest in a reunion but the chances of that happening were low, particularly with the front office’s plan to keep payroll down in 2023.
Jansen becomes the second former Dodger reliever to sign with the Red Sox this offseason. Right-hander Chris Martin parlayed a great two months in LA into a sizeable $17.5 million deal in bean town earlier during the winter meetings.
I’d say here to Dodgers fans that a deal is coming for LA in some shape or form during these winter meetings… but that is really starting to feel like a stretch.
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LA might have lost some pull with the big guy when he started getting boo’d during his what, 3 game hickup midseason in 2021, and there is the old baseball axiom about better to get rid of a player a year too soon than a year too late. But it sure looks like the Dodgers blew it on this one. Gotta wonder how many they would have won in the regular season with him closing instead of Kimbrel. Tip of the hat to Kenley for his great years in LA.
Easy to be an armchair GM, but I think the Dodgers blew it on this one.