Kenley Jansen Explains Leaving Red Sox Before End Of Season

Kenley Jansen wasn't only unavailable to the Red Sox for their final series of the 2024 season. He wasn't with the club at all.

Jansen was placed on the 15-day injured list due to a shoulder issue at the start of Boston's final week of the campaign. The veteran closer ended up leaving the Red Sox before their last series against the Tampa Bay Rays and started his offseason early from home.

Appearing on a recent "Baseball Isn't Boring" podcast, Jansen told WEEI's Rob Bradford what led to his premature departure.

"Me and (Alex Cora) have a conversation and I think we both agreed," Jansen told Bradford, as transcribed by Sports Illustrated. "Of course, I had been dealing with my shoulder the last couple of weeks of inflammation and all that so that's what it was. It's nothing big. We came to an agreement that I think was best to put me on the (IL) to let that shoulder recover and that's pretty much it. And when we got eliminated they agreed that I could go home. No biggie."

Cora agreed that Jansen heading home early wasn't a big deal. The Red Sox manager also said any players could speak with him privately if they had a problem with Jansen's exit.

It remains to be seen if the four-time All-Star's separation from Boston is permanent, as he's headed for MLB free agency this offseason.