It’s been an interesting offseason for the Los Angeles Angels.
The team has made some moves to enter the playoff race this offseason. In November, they traded for outfielder Jorge Soler, who was the former World Series MVP and later signed catcher Travis D’Arnaud.
Soler, D’Arnaud, and a healthy Mike Trout should significantly boost the team’s offense.
On Tuesday, the Angels struck with another big move.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post and MLB Network reported the news first
Breaking: Kenley Jansen to the Angels
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 11, 2025
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale confirmed Heyman’s report and added that Jansen’s contract will be worth $10 million for one year.
He receives a one-year, $10 million deal. https://t.co/rHMXCNEQfT
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 11, 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Jansen as an undrafted free-agent catcher in 2004. However, his offensive struggles in the minor league system led the team to convert him to a pitcher.
The Dodgers called up Jansen in July of 2010, and he remained a fixture of their bullpen for the next decade. The team named him their closer in the 2012 season, and he recorded 25 or more saves each season from 2012 to 2021, except for the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season.
In his nine seasons with the Dodgers, Jansen recorded 350 saves, the most in franchise history by a wide margin.
Jansen tested free agency for the first time after the 2021 season. He signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves. Jansen led MLB with 41 saves during his year in Atlanta, then signed a two-year deal with the Boston Red Sox.
Jansen notched 56 saves in his two seasons with Boston. He was named to the AL All-Star team in 2023, the fourth All-Star appearance of his career.
Should the Angels fall out of contention by July’s Trade Deadline, Jansen could be an intriguing trade chip for any number of contending teams.
Social media had a lot to say about the news. Many joked about Jansen returning to the Dodgers at some point this season.
1 more pit stop before coming home pic.twitter.com/ayW9iS4FDh https://t.co/4EUgpcXLYV
— . (@dookiebettsss) February 11, 2025
Gonna spend every night staring across LA at the Dodgers like the green light in great gatsby https://t.co/o1kPc7cMCP
— Hugh (@zaboomahugh) February 11, 2025
Happy for Kenley, he got the nice short commute to watch Dodger games that he wanted https://t.co/UmKDj3psJC
— Jake (@Jake3Roy) February 11, 2025
Nats going with a bold new strategy of simply not having a closer this season https://t.co/ixuQtT9I4I
— SHACK (@WeAreAllShack) February 11, 2025
About Robert O'Neill