Former Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen had a strong year in his age-37 season with the Los Angeles Angels, and could fill a role the Dodgers desperately need in 2026.
Jansen began his career with the Dodgers, making his debut for LA in 2010. He spent 12 seasons with the Dodgers, logging 350 saves and posting an impressive 2.37 ERA across 701 appearances.
Jansen, now 38, signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Angels ahead of the 2025 season, and showed why he’s one of the best closers the sport has ever seen. Despite a rough start to the season, Jansen ended the year with a 2.59 ERA — his best since his final year with the Dodgers in 2021 — and converted 29 of his 30 save opportunities.
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He had an unstoppable run from July to August, going 15 games without allowing a run and securing all seven of his save opportunities. Jansen earned American League Reliever of the Month honors for his performances in July.
Now a free agent once again, the Dodgers could look to make a move on him.
LA took a chance on a new closer in 2025, signing Tanner Scott to a four-year, $72 million deal after tearing hitters apart with the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres in 2024. He didn’t have the kind of year he would have liked, posting a 4.74 ERA and blowing 10 of his 33 save opportunities, leaving the role up for grabs next season.
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Jansen is accustomed to being a closer and is more than qualified to take the position, even at 38 years old. The Dodgers could get the All-Star at a premium this offseason, and bringing in the veteran at such a price would provide a much-needed boost to a bullpen which underperformed at the end of the 2025 season.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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8 Responses
NOOOOOOO
By all means! Get KJ back where he belongs and release Tanner. If KJ stumbles or needs help, Sasaki, Vesia and others are more than enough. Even if the longer term plan is to bring Sasaki into the rotation, there’s little reason to retain Scott and yet we will need help at closer, so who better than KJ on a year to year deal. Who knows, he may still be going strong at 40-41!
Get rid of Tanner Scott and be on the hook for 3 years (18 million/yr) of his 4 year $72 million dollar contract? Smart, really smart. And easy to say when it is not your money you are throwing away…
He’ll always be my closer. I hope they bring him back
Absolutely NO
Never in a trillion years! Get Edwin Diaz instead!
No. Get a younger arm. He needs to retire.
They got rid of him 5 years ago because they thought he was too old, no way are they going to bring him back now.
That’s not saying they should or shouldn’t, just that they won’t.