Braves strike deal with Jansen

*Photo from the Los Angeles Times*

   One of baseball's best closers is on his way to Atlanta. The Atlanta Braves and RHP Kenley Jansen have agreed to a one year, $16 million deal, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. The Braves have confirmed the deal.

   The relationship was already there. Jansen grew familiar with now Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos while Anthopoulos was in the Los Angeles Dodgers front office, and while Jansen was rattling off 3 straight world series appearances.

   Anthopoulos said of being able to sign Jansen that "Obviously, his career speaks for itself. You see how he peaked at the end of last year, the last two months with his performance and into the postseason. I’ve seen him pitch for so long. He’s really durable."

   Last season, with the Dodgers, Jansen finished the regular season with a 4-4 record, to go with a 2.22 ERA and 1.04 WHIP, fanning 86 hitters across 69 innings pitched, converting 38 saves in 69 relief appearances for the Dodgers. Jansen picked up one save in 7 innings pitched and 8 relief appearances in the 2021 postseason.

   In Jansen's 12 big league seasons, all with the Dodgers, he has a regular season record of 37-26, with a 2.37 ERA and 0.92 WHIP, with 350 career saves in 705 innings pitched, making 701 relief appearances. Jansen has a 3-2 record with a 2.13 ERA and 0.80 WHIP, with 19 saves in 63 1/3 innings pitched, in 57 playoff appearances.

   Jansen joins the Braves with his 2.37 career ERA ranked 3rd lowest in baseball for a pitcher with over 700 innings pitched since the live ball era began in 1920, trailing only Mariano Rivera and Billy Wagner. His 36.8 strikeout rate leads baseball in that same category, and he became the 13th player to reach 350 or more saves in a career. In 7 straight full seasons, Jansen has saved 33 or more games each of those years.

   In Atlanta, Jansen helps bolster an already deadly Braves bullpen, taking over the closer spot from Will Smith. He joins Smith, newly signed Collin McHugh, Tyler Matzek, AJ Minter, and Luke Jackson as the high leverage options for the Braves out of the bullpen.