Free Agent Profile: Kenley Jansen, RP

Kenley Jansen, RP

Position: RP B/T: S/R

Age: 37 (09/30/1987)

2024 Traditional Stats: 54 G, 54 2/3 IP, 4-2, 3.29 ERA, 1.061 WHIP, 62 SO, 20 BB, 38 GF, 27 SV

2024 Advanced Stats: 130 ERA+, 28.4% SO%, 9.2% BB%, 3.24 xERA, 3.00 FIP, 4.04 xFIP, 1.4 fWAR, 1.3 bWAR

Rundown

After 12 years and 350 saves with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kenley Jansen bounced around a bit for the last three years. In 2022, he led the league with 54 games finished and 41 saves as a member of the Atlanta Braves. The following winter, Jansen signed a two-year, $32 million deal with the Boston Red Sox. He was an All-Star in 2023, pitching to a 3.63 ERA and earning 29 saves in 51 appearances. The following season was slightly better for the veteran right-hander. Jansen pitched to a 3.29 ERA in 2024, throwing 54 2/3 innings across 54 appearances. His time in Boston proved that he is still a very valuable arm in high-leverage situations.

2024 was a good year for Jansen on the whole, but his splits tell a different story. In the first half of the season, he was razor-sharp, registering a 3-1 record, 2.16 ERA, 1.080 WHIP, and 19 saves in 33 1/3 innings. Great numbers across the board. Post All-Star break? Not so much. A 1-1 record, 5.06 ERA, 1.031 WHIP, and eight saves in 21 1/3 innings. After giving up no home runs in his first 32 appearances, Jansen gave up four over his final 22 appearances. For his career, Jansen’s splits are much more even. A 2.42 ERA in the first half and 2.71 ERA in the second half.

Jansen’s pitch mix has had some evolution over the years. He used a changeup periodically early on, but went away from it after 2011. Jansen also had a four-seam fastball in his repertoire, using it as much as 11.7% of the time in 2016. But after that season, he chose to go away from the four-seamer. From that point on, Jansen has exclusively used three pitches: a cutter, slider, and sinker. The cutter is his biggest weapon. In 2024, he used that pitch 84.9% of the time. Batters hit .215 and had a .348 slugging percentage against his cutter. The slider and sinker are pitches he likes to mix in here and there, throwing both less than 10% of the time.

Contract

Jansen made $16 million each of the last three years. With age, his production has still remained at a high level. That bodes well as he looks to earn another substantial contract this offseason. Entering his age 37 season, there is a very real possibility he lands another multi-year contract.

As a matter of fact, I would expect just that to happen. With the way the reliever market is shaping out, I believe most playoff-caliber teams will at least check in with Jansen, if not make an offer. His production in addition to his playoff experience will prove to be a valuable asset to all suitors. I think Jansen lands a two-year, $29 million deal.

Recommendation

Along with signing Pete Alonso or another impact bat, the Mets are still looking to fill their bullpen. Edwin Díaz is the headliner as the team’s closer, but beyond that, there aren’t a lot of known quantities. Dedniel Núñez, Reed Garrett, and Sean Reid-Foley are a few of the other notable arms. As the offseason progresses, the Mets likely need two, maybe three additions to the bullpen. Luckily for them, the reliever market has not moved much yet. It seems the Mets will have plenty of options to choose from throughout the coming weeks.

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