In a move that has sports fans and analysts alike paying close attention, the Detroit Tigers have taken a significant step to strengthen their pitching staff. They've reached an agreement with seasoned free-agent reliever Kenley Jansen, marking a noteworthy addition to their bullpen. But here’s where it gets controversial—Jansen’s role as a closer and his potential impact with the Tigers might stir mixed opinions among baseball enthusiasts.
Sources confirmed to The Athletic that Jansen, a veteran right-hander, has signed a one-year contract with Detroit. This deal also includes a team option for 2027, giving the Tigers some flexibility for future seasons. Jansen, who is 38 years old, is fresh off a strong year with the Los Angeles Angels, where he posted a 2.59 ERA and secured 29 saves. His arrival aims to fill the role of a traditional closer, which has been somewhat absent in Detroit during A.J. Hinch’s five-year tenure as manager. Already, the Tigers’ bullpen features notable options like Will Vest, who saved 23 games last season, and Kyle Finnegan, with 24 saves split between the Nationals and Tigers. With the team ranked 30th last season in strikeouts per nine innings—a key indicator of bullpen dominance—adding Jansen is a strategic move to improve overall performance.
This marks Jansen’s fifth free-agent contract during his career, and by 2026, he will have played for his fourth team, having spent his first twelve seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. According to The Athletic’s rankings, Jansen was the 46th-best player on their Big Board. Sportswriter Tim Britton projected that Jansen might land a one-year deal around $10 million—which makes the details of his agreement with the Tigers, such as financial terms, undisclosed for now.
Jansen’s name is synonymous with prolific closing—he’s just two saves shy of surpassing Hall of Famer Lee Smith’s 478 saves, placing him third all-time. For Jansen, reaching 500 saves isn’t just a number; it’s a personal milestone he’s eager to achieve. In an interview with The Athletic in May, he expressed his confidence and ambition, saying, “I think I have a lot more left in my tank, and why not get that accomplishment?” He added, “It’s a pretty awesome achievement. Only two guys have done it before, so why not be the third?”
He has also articulated a desire to keep pitching for several more seasons—not solely driven by the pursuit of stats but motivated by his love for the game and continuing to contribute on the mound.
While Jansen’s overall performance has been impressive, some underlying metrics from last season raise eyebrows. His average exit velocity allowed was 91.5 mph—the worst of his career and sitting in the bottom three percent among MLB pitchers—indicating less effective contact suppression. Although his ERA was below 3.00, his expected ERA, which estimates how he should have performed based on underlying factors, sat at 3.74. Additionally, his strikeout rate has seen a decline, ending last season at just 24.4 percent compared to his career average of 32.7 percent.
Nevertheless, Jansen’s signing presents him with a chance to be the Tigers’ closer once again. Although the closing role is often not guaranteed from season to season, all eyes will be on Jansen to deliver a clutch performance and potentially rack up another 24 saves. The move raises some debate—will Jansen bounce back to dominate as he has in the past, or will recent metrics signal a decline? Fans and critics are invited to share their perspectives: Do you believe Jansen can reclaim his former dominance with the Tigers? Or are we witnessing the twilight of an era? Drop your opinions in the comments below—let’s get the conversation started.
