The Los Angeles Angels signed Closer Kenley Jansen to a one-year $10 million contract on Tuesday. Jansen is coming off a solid 2024 season with the Boston Red Sox. He finished 12th in the league in saves. Jansen has had a tremendous career. He is 37 and will be one of the oldest players in Major League Baseball this season. He is fourth all-time in saves and will look to add to his Hall of Fame resume in Los Angeles this season. How will this deal work out for both sides?
Los Angeles Angels Season Summary
Source confirms: Free-agent closer Kenley Jansen in agreement with Angels on one-year, $10M contract, pending physical. First: @JonHeyman, @Joelsherman1
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 11, 2025
It has been a terrible decade for the Los Angeles Angels. They are in the midst of a 10-year playoff drought. They finished the season 63-99. It was the second-worst mark in the American League. Los Angeles made a few savvy moves this offseason including the signings of Starting Pitcher Kyle Hendricks, Catcher Travis d’Arnaud, and Starting Pitcher Yusei Kikuchi.
A terrible recent run for the Angels has been tied to the health of former AL MVP Mike Trout. He has had a rash of injuries and has only played 100+ games in two of the last six seasons. Trout was well on his way to being considered one of the best baseball players of all time, but injuries have stripped him of that.
Final Thoughts
Jansen joins an Angels pitching staff that was awful in 2024. They were 26th in ERA, 29th in strikeouts, and 21st in opposing batting average. Los Angeles was also 26th in the league in saves in 2024. A successful year for Jansen should help the pitching staff of the Angels tremendously.
