This page may contain affiliate links. If you click and sign up, make a deposit, or place a wager, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Tigers' Kenley Jansen: Named favorite to close by manager
Rotowire
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch indicated Wednesday on the Tiger Territory podcast that Jansen will open the season as the team's favorite to serve as closer.
Speaking about his high-leverage relief options, Hinch said, "I think they're all going to get saves," before adding that "I think we can pretty much guess how it's gonna go given that one of them has a historic number of saves." The latter comment was in reference to Jansen, who is 24 saves away from 500 for his career. It doesn't mean the 38-year-old will finish the 2026 season as the Tigers' closer, but it's a safe bet Jansen will open the year as Hinch's first choice to handle save opportunities. Will Vest and/or Kyle Finnegan would be next-in-line if Jansen slips up. Jansen's strikeout rate dipped to a career-low 24.4 percent in 2025 with the Angels, but he remained effective, posting a 2.59 ERA and 0.95 WHIP while notching 29 saves.
Tigers' Kenley Jansen: POBO won't commit to closer
Rotowire
Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris stopped short of naming Jansen the team's closer Wednesday, saying that there are "at least three or four closer types" on the roster, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Jansen is 24 saves shy of 500 for his career and has been adamant about reaching that milestone, but it seems he was not promised the closer role in Detroit when he agreed to a one-year, $11 million contract. Harris said that who closes for the Tigers will be up to manager A.J. Hinch. While Jansen remains the favorite to see the bulk of the save opportunities, Kyle Finnegan, Will Vest and Tyler Holton could be in the mix, as well.
Tigers' Kenley Jansen: Joins Tigers on one-year deal
Rotowire
Jansen signed a one-year, $11 million contract with the Tigers on Saturday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Jansen's new deal also includes a club option for the 2027 season, per Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. The 38-year-old has yet to show signs of slowing down, as he finished the 2025 campaign with a 2.59 ERA and 0.95 WHIP over 59 innings while collecting 29 saves with the Angels. Now set to spend his 17th MLB season in Detroit, the right-hander will likely begin 2026 as the team's closer, moving Will Vest and Kyle Finnegan into setup roles.
Jansen struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his 29th save of the season in a 4-3 win over the Astros.
The veteran closer stuck a dagger in Houston's playoff hopes, firing 16 of 19 pitches for strikes as he fanned Jesus Sanchez, Ramon Urias and Mauricio Dubon. Jansen hasn't blown a save since June 29, converting 14 straight chances since the beginning of July with a 1.19 ERA, 0.59 WHIP and 31:8 K:BB over his last 30.1 innings. Jansen should attract plenty of interest this winter in free agency if he doesn't elect to re-up with the Angels, and he needs only three more saves to pass Hall of Famer Lee Smith for third place on MLB's all-time list.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Kenley Jansen: Shuts door for 28th save
Rotowire
Jansen secured the save Wednesday against the Royals, striking out two in a clean ninth inning.
Jansen posted his 28th save of the season, and he hasn't permitted a single hit over his last nine appearances. Through 59 innings, the veteran right-hander has a 2.64 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 54:19 K:BB while blowing just one save opportunity. Jansen is headed for unrestricted free agency this winter, and he'll soon set his sights toward trying to become only the third member of the illustrious 500-save club along with Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman. Jansen has 475 saves for his career.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Kenley Jansen: Notches 27th save
Rotowire
Jansen struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his 27th save of the season in a 4-3 win over the Twins.
The veteran closer has converted 12 straight save chances since the beginning of July, posting a 1.37 ERA, 0.65 WHIP and 26:7 K:BB in 26.1 innings over that stretch while also adding four wins. Jansen is up to 474 saves for his career, leaving him four behind Hall of Famer Lee Smith for third place on the all-time list.
