The Los Angeles Angels have locked in on their closer for the season, and it’s a familiar name, especially for fans from Southern California – none other than Kenley Jansen! MLB Network’s Jon Heyman broke the news that the longtime Dodgers closer is yet again making a return to Los Angeles. Only this time not in blue but red.

According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the Angels have agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal for Jansen. This three-time All-Star built most of his legacy with the Los Angeles Dodgers, anchoring their bullpen for 12 seasons and couped up a massive 350 saves. After that, he spent a year with the Atlanta Braves in 2022, followed by his last two seasons pitching for the Boston Red Sox.

Boston is the place where Kenley Jansen made it apparent – age is just a number.

Last season, he posted 27 saves with a 3.29 ERA in 54 appearances. His strikeout ability—10.2 per nine innings—proves his enthusiasm. Plus, with 447 career saves, he sits fourth in the list of all-time MLB saves, closing in on Hall of Famer Lee Smith’s 478 saves. If Kenley Jansen remains healthy and performs at his own level, he might as well break Smith’s record.

The Angels have struggled with consistency. So, getting a veteran on board, someone who can lock down games in high-pressure situations could definitely play in their favor.

But not everyone is thrilled! Social media is flooded with opinions on how this is basically not great!

The internet reacts to Kenley Jansen’s LA move

One fan threw some serious shade: “Washed to mid.” But let’s be real—Kenley Jansen isn’t just some washed-up veteran grabbing for a paycheck. He brings experience and stability – a huge area of concern for the Los Angeles Angels. Ben Joyce is their young flamethrower, and he briefly came in as a closer last season. He was expected to do the same this season, but now with Jansen in the mix, Joyce will probably shift to his real role. And that’s not a bad thing. He can now be used in high-leverage situations, rather than being stuck in ninth-inning roles. Plus learning from a guy who has 447 saves? That’s sweet!

A bitter user expressed his displeasure, “Good, glad he didn’t get the chance to go back to the Dodgers after sitting home.” The Los Angeles Dodgers anyway have a stacked-up bullpen. One can say—of superstars. So he wouldn’t have made the cut there this season at least. Sure, some can be bitter, but numbers don’t lie. Jansen is a solid closer, and his track record speaks for itself. In all-time saves, he is behind legends like Mariano Rivera (652), Trevor Hoffman (601), and Lee Smith (478). He is just 31 shy of getting his spot of third. He is making a Hall of Fame case every season.

One fan summed it up bluntly, “Dude just wants to be in LA.” And can you blame him? Jansen spent 12 years with the Dodgers, building a legacy there! His time in Boston frankly always felt temporary, especially with the team trying to shop him off. Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reported in January 2024 that the team was entertaining offers. Plus, once the Red Sox locked in on Aroldis Chapman, the picture was clear—they were moving on from Kenley Jansen.

A Red Sox fan exclaimed, “He was awful because he was in Boston, but he’ll bounce back leaving that place.” Well, the Boston’s bullpen shuffle had left plenty of fans scratching their heads. Their off-season was supposed to be aggressive, but it’s a slow burn. The Athletics’ Jen McCaffrey, in fact, ran a fan survey, and a huge 73.8% said they had no faith in the team’s direction. The frustration is not new, but it’s growing louder. Craig Breslow was supposed to bring in a good era as chief baseball officer, but it’s far from reality.

This move summed it up best with “Damn.” And well, the Boston Red Sox are left scrambling for a closer. They are heading to spring training with an open competition for the ninth-inning role, with Liam Hendriks, Aroldis Chapman, and Justin Slaten as leading candidates. Hendricks has 116 career saves, but he hasn’t pitched since 2023. Chapman has taken a more setup role. Slaten has had a good rookie season, but he is still unproven in high-pressure situations.

But despite the comments flying around the internet, Kenley Jansen’s move can be great for the Angels and a dud for the Boston Red Sox or vice versa.

Do YOU have any thoughts about this trade? Don’t hesitate to share them with us!