TEMPE, Ariz. — On Kenley Jansen’s first day in the Angels’ clubhouse on Saturday, it was quickly apparent that the Angels’ closers of the present and future understand their roles.
Jansen is 53 saves away from 500, and he’s hoping the Angels can put him in position to make significant progress toward that milestone.
Joyce, who seemed to be the Angels’ closer until the team reached a deal with Jansen earlier this week, expressed no issues with taking a step back to work with one of the most successful relievers of his generation.
“It’s exciting,” Joyce said. “That’s where you want to be as a closer, having almost 500 saves. It’s going to be awesome to learn from him and pick his brain every day. I’m just going to try to learn as much as I can from him. I’m really excited about it.”
Jansen expressed a similar admiration for Joyce.
“He’s awesome,” Jansen said. “I’m excited. I watched him pitch from the other side. Everything I can do to help him be an unbelievable closer in the future – he just has to stay healthy – I’m here to help. I want to push him and want him to push me, and for us to do something special down there in the back of the bullpen.”
The duo of Jansen and Joyce could be a strength of the Angels’ pitching staff.
Jansen, 37, had a 3.29 ERA with 27 saves in 31 opportunities last season. Over the past three years, he has a 3.42 ERA.
Joyce, 24, had a 2.08 ERA in 2024, spending the final four months of the season in the majors. Joyce has still pitched just 44⅔ innings in the majors over parts of two seasons, and he has not gone through the grind of a six-month season. He’s also been on the injured list in each of those seasons.
Manager Ron Washington said the Angels still feel they need to “be really careful,” with Joyce in order to keep him healthy. For his part, Joyce said he’s ready to do whatever the Angels need.
“I feel great,” he said. “I feel like I’ve put my body in a great spot to be healthy for hopefully the whole season and hopefully 70-plus appearances.”
Washington said Joyce will still get some save opportunities when Jansen is unavailable, but he’ll mostly pitch the eighth inning.
“I’m excited at what we’re building here,” Joyce said. “If my role is a setup role, I’m going to make the most of it and just try to do what I can to help the team win.”
Although the Angels would love to have Joyce and Jansen pitching effectively to combine on the last six outs of games, having both of them at least gives them some cushion in case one is hurt.
Jansen has been relatively healthy throughout his career, but he is still at an age when pitchers often see their careers end. Jansen brings the added complication of his heart issues.
He was diagnosed with an atrial fibrillation – an irregular heartbeat – in 2011, and he’s had to monitor it ever since. He has not missed any time for reasons related to his heart since 2022.
Jansen said he needs to be diligent about staying hydrated and avoiding unhealthy foods.
“I know I have a special heart,” Jansen said. “The thing is, I’m not going to let that stop you from playing the game you love. I love this game and I want to do it for a little bit more.”
At least long enough to get 53 more saves.
Only two pitchers – Hall of Famers Mariano Rivera (652) and Trevor Hoffman (601) – have ever reached 500 saves. Jansen is currently fourth, just 32 saves from passing Lee Smith (478).
“That would be special to me if I get there one day,” Jansen said of reaching 500. “Just hope to say healthy, keep enjoying this game every day, and don’t take it for granted. Even a day like today, I’m not taking it for granted. I’m here. I’m excited. Learning new teammates. I’m ready to go outside and compete.”
NOTES
The Angels also finalized the deal for infielder Yoán Moncada on Saturday. In order to create 40-man roster spots for Jansen and Moncada, the Angels placed third baseman Anthony Rendon (hip surgery) and right-hander Robert Stephenson (Tommy John surgery) on the 60-day injured list. Rendon is likely to miss the entire season. Stephenson has an outside chance to be back when he’s eligible in late May. …
Washington said he’s been impressed with how quickly the players have taken to his infield drills this year. “They’re so far ahead of what we had last year,” Washington said. “A lot of the young kids, we worked with them here in January. And the new guys that are here, they’re veterans, so this is not their first time trying to learn something.” Washington said infielders Kevin Newman and Scott Kingery live in Arizona, so they began getting acclimated in informal workouts last month.