Kenley Jansen enjoyed a successful career with the Los Angeles Dodgers that came to an end when he signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves before the 2022 season.
That was despite the Dodgers being among a small number of teams that presented Jansen with a two-year contract offer. The right-hander spent just the one season with his childhood favorite Braves team before joining the Boston Red Sox on a two-year deal.
Jansen is now on track to become a free agent after the 2024 season and could emerge as a potential trade candidate if the Red Sox were to slip out of the American League Wild Card picture.
When discussing his future during an appearance on “Foul Territory”, Jansen expressed interest in making his way back to Los Angeles in order to retire with the Dodgers:
“To be honest with you, if I had to speak for myself, yes. I want to see myself retiring in Dodger Blue. Is it a reality? No. I don’t know, because I don’t have control over that. Also, I don’t know what they’re thinking. At the end of the day it’s a business.
“I want to compete. If a team out there wants to compete for a championship, that’s what I want to do. I want to chase championships. Whoever wants me on their roster when I’m a free agent and is the best deal for me and my family, that’s where I’ll go.
“But also, yes, Dodgers will have that edge. Is it realistic it can happen? Yes. But also, who knows? At the end of the day I have to look at what’s best for me and my family too.”
Jansen previously expressed his affinity for the Dodgers organization and their fans when he first returned to Dodger Stadium in 2022.
“We did a lot of great things. I always will appreciate them. They were hard on me at the end. I understand that,” he said at the time. “I had such a high standard for myself, sometimes you show you’re human.
“It’s a very competitive organization, the fans want to see this team win ballgames. I expect them to give me a warm welcome. I love them and I know they love me.”
The Dodgers reportedly had interest in a Jansen trade during Spring Training and were more recently said to be one of the teams open to acquiring the veteran closer.
Kenley Jansen’s stats with Dodgers
Jansen pitched 12 seasons for the Dodgers after converting from catcher and became the franchise’s all-time saves leader with 350.
Jansen’s Dodgers career also included three All-Star Game selections, two National League Trevor Hoffman Relief Pitcher of the Year Awards and a World Series championship, among other accolades.
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