The Boston Red Sox haven’t brought in a star closer this offseason as the team’s 2024 closer, Kenley Jansen, remains in free agency. Boston will need to bring in a star of some sort to boost the back end of its bullpen in 2025.
There’s a chance they reunite with Jansen if all the pieces fall into place. But the most likely option is Jansen cutting ties with the Red Sox to sign a deal elsewhere.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller recently predicted the Red Sox star would sign a free-agency deal with the Detroit Tigers. Miller even floated that Jansen’s deal could be worth around $15 million for one year.
“Jansen has saved at least 15 percent of his team’s games played in 13 consecutive seasons, still pitching at a high level last season at 36 years old,” Miller wrote. “Wherever he lands, the current fourth-place pitcher on MLB‘s career saves leaderboard wants assurances he’ll continue to have regular access to save opportunities.
“At this stage in the offseason, though, it’s getting difficult to find a team that both could reasonably afford the 37-year-old and doesn’t already have a clear closer on its staff. Maybe Detroit makes one more $15 million-ish acquisition?”
Jansen was a reliable option for the Red Sox in 2024. Coming into the offseason, the speculation was he would return to the Dodgers and retire in Dodger Blue, but with Los Angeles adding a few high-leverage relievers already, that idea is likely out the window.
The Tigers would be a fine landing place for the legendary closer. Detroit has shown a willingness to add talent this winter, so it’s not outlandish to imagine the Tigers might spend to acquire Jansen, too.
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