One of the biggest assumptions of the Los Angeles Angels offseason was that closer Kenley Jansen would be returning. Jansen was one of the few reliable options in the Angels bullpen, and he indicated that he was open to coming back to Anaheim rather than sign with the first contender that was interested.
Evidently, though, that wasn’t entirely true. According to Mark Feinsand of MLB com in a story written by Brent Maguire, the Detroit Tigers have agreed to a one-year contract with Jansen, which includes a club option for 2027. Terms have yet to be announced beyond that.
Jansen’s stats for the Angels were impressive. This was his age-37 season, and the closer posted a 2.59 ERA in 62 appearances, which was is lowest ERA since 2021 with the Dodgers, when he posted a 2.22 ERA. He added 29 more saves with the Angels, which brought his career total to 476, the fourth most by any pitcher since the save stat was made official back in 1969.
The Angels closer has been candid about his career goals right now. At this point he’s basically a mercenary, given that he wants to get to 500 saves. Based strictly on the team’s records, he’ll have more opportunities in Detroit, although right hander Will Vest did have 23 saves for the Tigers to go with a 3.01 ERA.
But bullpen depth is important these days, and there’s no shortage of teams that are looking to combine two de facto closers in slightly different day-to-day roles. That’s what the Tigers did here, and it’s a smart move, although Jansen’s strikeout rate did drop below 25 percent this year, and his percentage of hard-hit balls was 44.6, according to Maguire.
As for the Angels, it’s anyone’s guess where the team goes now when it comes to closing games. The Halos expressed a high level of interest in retaining Jansen at the end of the season, but their interest in the closer seemed to diminish with the hiring of new manager Kurt Suzuki and pitching coach Mike Maddux.
In theory, someone like Reid Detmers could be promoted to become the new closer, although there are rumors that Detmers could also figure in the starting rotation. The Angels have plenty of young arms, but no one who slots in as closer, although there is plenty of offseason left to sign or deal for a closer.
It’s a big loss, especially given Jansen’s reliability. He posted and delivered throughout a difficult season, and reliable closers can be hard to find.