Kenley Jansen Continues to Be Linked With Dodgers For a Potential Reunion

The Los Angeles Dodgers have committed over $1 billion in contractual commitments this offseason to put together a star-studded roster. In a recent report in The Athletic, Ken Rosenthal says the Dodgers are still looking for more help in the bullpen.

Kenley Jansen, the franchise leader in saves, remains an option for L.A., according to Rosenthal.

The Dodgers seem more focused on adding a high-leverage reliever, perhaps Ryan Brasier as a free agent or the Red Sox’s Kenley Jansen in a trade.

Ken Rosenthal – The Athletic

The Dodgers would need to trade for Jansen who is under contract for one more year with the Boston Red Sox. Since leaving L.A. in 2022, Jansen has accrued 70 saves and 137 strikeouts in 108.2 innings pitched. His trademark cutter also saw a tick-up in velocity last year.

While not the pitcher he once was, Jansen still ranks highly among closers in MLB. In 2021, he led the National League in saves with 41, tying a career-high.

Boston looks to be shedding their bigger contracts this year. They traded away Alex Verdugo to the rival New York Yankees and flipped Chris Sale to the Atlanta Braves.

Trades can be tricky to predict. Oftentimes, front offices rank players much differently than the general public. Due $16 million next year, it’s hard to imagine that Jansen has much trade value at that price. If the Red Sox swallow most of that contract, then the calculus will change when looking for a trade partner.

For the Dodgers, they could still use a high-leverage reliever. As of right now, the health of Blake Treinen and J.P. Feyereisen remains in question. That leaves Evan Phillips as the player the team will rely on in most high-stakes situations.

Adding one more reliever insulates the Dodgers from further injury, or if Treinen or Feyereisen cannot make a strong return next year. If that happens to be Jansen, he will have the opportunity to climb rungs on the all-time saves list next year in Dodger Blue.

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