Former Red Sox All-Star Wants To Pitch Well Into His 40s

Look out, Rich Hill!

There’s another former Boston Red Sox hurler who is planning to pitch well into his 40s.

Los Angeles Angels closer Kenley Jansen (who spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons with the Red Sox) told Jeff Fletcher of The Orange Register recently that he aims to pitch “at least” four more years following the 2025 season. Jansen will turn 38-years old at the end of September.

“My goal is at least four more years after this season,” the four-time All-Star said. “That’s my goal.”

Jansen’s performance in 2025 during his first season with the Angels indicates that he’s certainly got enough left in the tank to approach his goal.

The two-time Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year Award winner is 4-2 this season with 20 saves and his 2.79 ERA is his best since 2021. Jansen’s posted an elite 1.07 WHIP, has 40 strikeouts over 42 innings pitched covering 45 games and was named the AL Reliever of the Month for July.

The Curacao native ranks fourth on MLB’s all-time saves list with 467, just 11 behind Hall of Famer (and former Boston closer) Lee Smith. From there, Jansen would look to join New York Yankees legend Mariano Rivera and San Diego Padres icon Trevor Hoffman in the 500-save club.

Rivera is the all-time leader in saves with 652, while Hoffman is second at 601. The former pitched until he was 43 and the latter stayed on the mound until he was 42.

Jansen signed a one-year, $10 million contract with Los Angeles in February and said he’s not sure what 2026 holds for him.

“I can’t predict, he said, per Fletcher. “I know what I can do for this season to help. Unfortunately, those decisions are not in my hands. One thing I learned is both sides have to like each other to have each other in the future.”