Free Agent Profile: Kenley Jansen, RP

Kenley Jansen, RP

Position: RP B/T: S/R
Age: 38 (9/30/1987)
2025 Traditional Stats: 62 G, 47 GF, 0 HLD, 29 SV, 1 BS, 59 IP, 5-4, 2.59 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 57 SO, 19 BB
2025 Advanced Stats: 165 ERA+, 24.4% K%, 8.1% BB%, 3.75 xERA, 3.98 FIP, 4.04 xFIP, 1 bWAR, 0.6 fWAR

Rundown

With 476 saves, Kenley Jansen is one of the most accomplished closers in MLB history. He already has the fourth-most saves in league history, and 2026 could be the season he reaches 500 saves. Coming off a successful year as the closer for the Los Angeles Angels, he will likely be searching for a role with a team where he can earn those final 24 saves to get to 500.

Even at 38, Jansen still possesses one of the best cutters in the game. His +13 run value was only behind Drew Rasmussen last year, per Baseball Savant. With 18.8 iBV, 2.4 inches of horizontal break, and 2,602 RPM of spin last year, Jansen was able to generate a 25.3% whiff rate. Batters hit .164 with a .302 SLG against that pitch last year.

His cutter is not his only effective pitch, either. His sinker came in with plus movement at 18.9 iBV, 7.9 inches of horizontal break, and generated a 36.1% chase rate and 37.5% whiff rate. His slider came in at 83.9 MPH, almost a full 10 MPH slower than his cutter and sinker. It moves with 7.1 inches of glove side horizontal break with -3.1 inches of iBV, and while it did not generate much whiff at 25.6%, his 64% chase was elite. He also mixed in a sweeper 3.4% of the time, which generated an above-average 35.5% chase, but he only threw it in the zone 41.4% of the time, and it was his least effective pitch.

Overall, while Jansen’s pitch data looks strong, most of the under-the-hood results were around league average. His 28.6% chase rate was in the 51st percentile, his 25.8% whiff rate was in the 54th percentile, his 8.1% walk rate was in the 46th percentile, and his 8.9% barrel rate was in the 41st percentile. His 24.4% strikeout rate was in the 63rd percentile, and he does still have elite extension at 7 feet (92nd percentile), which helps his cutter and sinker play up with more perceived velocity.

This has also been the case for Jansen for a few years now. In the four years since leaving the Dodgers, Jansen has pitched to a 3.20 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with a 28.4% strikeout rate. If his cutter continues to be as elite as it has been, Jansen should be set up for another successful season in 2026.

Contract

MLB Trade Rumors did not project a contract for Jansen, but Spotrac lists his market value at one year and $13.7 million. This is in line with deals signed by Kirby Yates and Aroldis Chapman last offseason.

Recommendation: Worth Checking In

Now that Edwin Díaz has chosen another team, the Mets are in the market for more high-leverage relievers. With Devin Williams likely in the closer’s role, the Mets may be a hard sell for Jansen. The Mets could always have Williams pitch in a setup role with Jansen as the closer, but he may prefer to be on a team with less competition for the job.

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