The former All-Star, World Series champion, and beloved player of the Los Angeles Dodgers is rumored to be heading to a divisional competitor.
The Dodgers have made significant offseason moves that reinforce their status as the reigning champions of 2024 and solidify their status as future contenders. However, the unfortunate truth is that not every player can be accommodated on the roster, no matter how impressive their credentials are.
Hopefully, this situation seems less dire for fans when they consider the exceptional talent acquired this offseason.
The Dodgers have signed Cy Young Award winners, brought in international stars, added powerful hitters, and retained key players who contributed to the team’s eighth World Series title, among other strategic moves since October.
Even Dodger Stadium is undergoing substantial renovations.
According to Chad Jennings of The Athletic, a former pitcher who played a crucial role in the team’s 2020 championship run could be joining the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Kenley Jansen spent 12 seasons with the Dodgers, achieving three All-Star selections and participating in three World Series. Following a season with the Atlanta Braves, he moved to the Boston Red Sox, where he earned another All-Star nod in 2023.
This potential move to Phoenix appears logical considering the Diamondbacks’ current bullpen situation and could also place Jansen in a position to reach a historic milestone.
He is just 31 saves away from tying Lee Smith, who holds 478 saves, for the third-highest total in MLB history. The legendary Mariano Rivera has the all-time record at 652, and Trevor Hoffman is second with 601 saves.
In 2024, Jansen had another solid season, pitching 54.2 innings across 54 games, achieving his lowest ERA since 2021 at 3.29, along with 62 strikeouts against 20 walks, and securing 27 saves.
While a reunion with Los Angeles would be welcomed by fans, at 37 years old and given the current makeup of the Dodgers’ bullpen, a return to L.A. seems highly unlikely.
