Sources: Red Sox, Jansen close 2-yr., $32M deal

Closer Kenley Jansen and the Boston Red Sox are successful statement connected a two-year, $32 cardinal contract, sources told ESPN, bolstering a Boston bullpen that ranked among the worst successful shot during the 2022 season.

Jansen, 35, spent this twelvemonth with the Atlanta Braves aft a twelve distinguished seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He led the National League with 41 saves, and his 391 vocation saves are 2nd astir among progressive players and eighth all-time.

In 64 innings with the Braves, Jansen struck retired 85 batters, walked 22 and posted a 3.38 ERA. Over his career, Jansen has struck retired 1,107 hitters successful 769 innings with a 2.46 ERA and ranks among the astir ascendant closers successful history.

Boston already had added to its bullpen this winter, signing right-hander Chris Martin to a two-year, $17.5 cardinal deal aft a ascendant showing with the Dodgers during which helium struck retired 34, walked 1 and enactment up a 1.46 ERA.

The bullpen for the 2022 Red Sox mustered a 4.59 ERA, the 5th worst successful baseball, and mislaid left-hander Matt Strahm to the Philadelphia Phillies via escaped bureau Tuesday. Right-hander Garrett Whitlock, who was utilized successful high-leverage alleviation situations implicit the season's last 3 months, is expected to displacement to the starting rotation.

Boston's bullpen, with Jansen, Martin and right-hander John Schreiber, could beryllium formidable arsenic the squad tries to claw retired of past spot successful the American League East.

Much of the Red Sox's erstwhile postseason efforts had gone for naught, arsenic they mislaid retired connected a fig of escaped cause targets: right-hander Zach Eflin, left-hander Tyler Anderson, left-hander Andrew Heaney and right-hander Tommy Kahnle.

The Red Sox proceed to people shortstop Xander Bogaerts, according to sources, arsenic the San Diego Padres and others prosecute him aft helium opted retired of the last 3 years of his contract. Bogaerts, with whom Jansen played connected squad Netherlands successful the World Baseball Classic, is expected to bid a declaration approaching $200 cardinal arsenic helium hits escaped bureau for the archetypal clip successful his 10-year career.

With the Jansen deal, the Red Sox presently task to person a payroll of astir $175 million. They are likely, sources said, to motion a fig of escaped agents arsenic they capable retired a roster that presently lacks a shortstop and starting-pitching depth.

Incumbent person Tanner Houck underwent backmost country successful August, and the Red Sox are hopeful he'll beryllium acceptable successful clip for outpouring training.