TEMPE, Ariz. — On the eve of the first workout of spring training, the Angels made a significant addition to their bullpen by agreeing with closer Kenley Jansen on a one-year, $10 million deal.
The deal, which was not confirmed by the Angels, was reported by multiple outlets.
Jansen, 37, recorded 27 saves with a 3.29 ERA with the Boston Red Sox last season. A longtime Dodgers reliever, Jansen has 447 saves in a career that will make him a candidate for the Hall of Fame.
By signing Jansen, the Angels give Ben Joyce more time to develop as their long-term closer. Joyce throws 105 mph and had a 2.08 ERA last season, but the 24-year-old has still pitched just 44⅔ innings in the majors.
Jansen reached the major leagues with the Dodgers in 2010, and he was a three-time All-Star and a fixture at the back of their bullpen for more than a decade.
Over the past three seasons, his career took him to Atlanta and then two seasons with the Red Sox. Jansen had 41 saves with the Braves in 2022 – when Angels manager Ron Washington was the third base coach – and then 56 saves in two seasons with the Red Sox.
Although Jansen is old by baseball standards, he’s remained effective and durable. He missed the last week of the 2024 season with right shoulder inflammation.
Otherwise, his only time on the injured list in the last three seasons was a two-week stint in 2022 with an irregular heartbeat.
Jansen was first diagnosed with atrial fibrillation with the Dodgers in 2011, and he’s dealt with heart-related issues from time to time in the subsequent years. He hasn’t missed any time because of the condition since 2022.
On the mound, Jansen still relies on a cutter 85% of the time, with occasional sliders and sinkers filling out the rest of his repertoire.
Although his strikeout rate has declined slightly, he still struck out 10.2 hitters per nine innings last year.
Jansen is the most significant addition to a bullpen that was surprisingly effective at the end of last season, even after Carlos Estévez and Luis Garcia were traded.
Angels relievers had a 3.36 ERA in the final two months of 2024, led by pitchers like Joyce, Brock Burke, Ryan Zeferjahn, Hans Crouse and Hunter Strickland, who was not re-signed.
Now, the Angels are poised to have Joyce and Burke as the primary setup men for Jansen. Right-hander Robert Stephenson, who signed for $33 million prior to last season, is expected to be back from Tommy John surgery at some point in the first half of the season.