Braves sign closer Kenley Jansen to $16M, 1-year deal
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves capped a busy week with one other beautiful transfer, signing three-time All-Star nearer Kenley Jansen… ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves capped a busy week with one other beautiful transfer, signing three-time All-Star nearer Kenley Jansen to a $16 million, one-year contract Friday evening. The 34-year-old Jansen, who had…
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves capped a busy week with one other beautiful transfer, signing three-time All-Star nearer Kenley Jansen…
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves capped a busy week with one other beautiful transfer, signing three-time All-Star nearer Kenley Jansen to a $16 million, one-year contract Friday evening.
The 34-year-old Jansen, who had 38 saves and a 2.22 ERA in 69 appearances for the Los Angeles Dodgers final season, is predicted to take over from Will Smith because the Braves’ main nearer.
Common supervisor Alex Anthopoulos mentioned he mentioned the signing with Smith earlier than finalizing the deal.
The left-hander had 37 saves and was particularly efficient down the stretch and within the postseason for the World Collection champions. Within the playoffs, Smith had six saves and didn’t permit a run over 11 innings.
“We informed him we would have a possibility to do one thing like this, however we needed to verify he was good with it,” Anthopoulos mentioned. “Will is on board. He mentioned, ‘If it makes the workforce higher and offers us an opportunity to win one other ring and have a parade once more, I’m all in.’”
Anthopoulos mentioned Smith remains to be more likely to get save alternatives when Jansen wants a time without work.
In any other case, the lefty will work in a setup position together with Tyler Matzek, Luke Jackson and A.J. Minter. The Braves additionally added Collin McHugh to a bullpen that now seems to be like one of many workforce’s largest strengths.
Jansen has 350 saves in a 12-year profession that had been spent fully with the Dodgers.
He’s saved at the least 33 video games in seven straight seasons excluding the pandemic-shortened 2020 marketing campaign, with a career-best 47 in 2016 when he was chosen for the primary of three consecutive All-Star Video games.
The Braves have bolstered their roster with a flurry of strikes, even whereas dropping longtime first baseman Freddie Freeman to the Dodgers.
In an fascinating twist, Los Angeles launched Freeman, who agreed to a six-year, $162 million contract, on the identical day the Braves landed a longtime Dodgers stalwart.
The Dodgers and Braves have squared off within the final two NL Championship Collection, every successful as soon as on the best way to a World Collection title.
The Braves began wheeling and dealing on Monday, buying and selling 4 prime prospects to the Oakland Athletics for star first baseman Matt Olson and signaling an abrupt finish to Freeman’s lengthy profession in Atlanta.
The very subsequent day, Olson signed an eight-year, $168 million deal — probably the most profitable contact in Braves historical past.
However Anthopoulos wasn’t finished. He additionally landed McHugh with a two-year, $10 million deal and introduced again widespread outfielder Eddie Rosario — MVP of the 2021 NL Championship Collection victory over the Dodgers — with a two-year, $18 million package deal.
As well as, the Braves added depth by signing outfielder Alex Dickerson and right-hander Tyler Thornburg to non-guaranteed contracts.
Anthopoulos mentioned beefing up the bullpen was considered one of his main targets after the lockout ended, particularly with a skinny rotation that’s largely unsure behind the highest three of Max Fried, Ian Anderson and Charlie Morton.
“Bullpen depth via the season is exceptionally necessary,” the GM mentioned. “You’ll be able to’t pitch guys each evening.”
Nonetheless, it was shocking that the Braves had been capable of land considered one of baseball’s most constant closers.
“It’s been a tiring week, a loopy week, an emotional week,” Anthopoulos mentioned. “However I’m actually enthusiastic about what we’ve been capable of get finished.”
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Observe Paul Newberry on Twitter at https://twitter.com/pnewberry1963 and discover his work at https://apnews.com/search/paulnewberry
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