Kenley Jansen, Boston Red Sox, RP - Fantasy Baseball News, Stats (2024)

Player Outlook

Kenley Jansen recorded his 400th career save last May en route to his 4th All-Star nomination. The veteran closer finished with 29 saves, enough to overtake Craig Kimbrel for the top spot on the active saves leaderboard. Jansen only made 51 appearances, his lowest mark since 2015, as he dealt with various ailments (back, knee, hamstring). Only a bout with COVID required a trip to the IL, though, and Jansen was still able to close out 67.4% of Boston's total saves. While there was concern he would have trouble adjusting to the pitch clock - he was dead last in pitch tempo (18.9 sec) with the bases empty - he only had 3 pitch clock violations all year, all in one game. Jansen also added velocity, averaging 94.3 mph (+2.1% difference from 2022) on his trademark cutter that he threw 78.8% of the time. Jansen is clearly on the downswing of his career - his 1.28 WHIP last season was his worst to date - but expecting another 25+ saves from him is not unreasonable.

Fantasy Performance by Week

Fantasy News

• Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Makes spring debut

  Rotowire Mar 15, 2024

  Jansen (lat) allowed three runs on three hits and struck out one over two-thirds of an inning in Friday's spring game against Minnesota.Jansen surrendered a pair of home runs in his Grapefruit League debut but wasn't worried about the results. "It's my first outing, and we'll sharpen things up as we go," Jansen told Ian Browne of MLB.com. He's particularly focused on getting his cutter in shape. Jansen estimates he'll need another four outings to be ready for the regular season, and he should have enough time to ramp up before Opening Day. His next scheduled outing comes Monday.

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• Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: On track to debut Friday

  Rotowire Mar 12, 2024

  Jansen (lat) completed a bullpen session Tuesday and is still expected to make his spring debut Friday against the Twins, Ian Browne of MLB.comreports.The veteran closer came into camp dealing with lat soreness but has ramped up his throwing program recently, and he's now on the cusp of game action. Jansen will have just under two weeks to prep for Opening Day in Seattle on March 28.

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• Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Eyeing March 15 spring debut

  Rotowire Mar 7, 2024

  Jansen (lat) said Wednesday that he's targeting the Red Sox's March 15 game against the Twins for his Grapefruit League debut, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.Jansen came into camp battling right lat soreness but recently progressed to facing hitters and is a little over a week away from a game appearance. He'll have less than two weeks to prep for Opening Day, but that's not expected to be a problem. Jansen will open the season as Boston's closer.

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• Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Slated to throw live BP

  Rotowire Mar 6, 2024

  Jansen (lat) is scheduled to throw live batting practice Wednesday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.It's possible the session is postponed due to rainy conditions in Florida, but if not, it will be the first time Jansen has faced hitters this spring as he works his way back from right lat soreness. The 36-year-old closer shouldn't require too many Grapefruit League appearances to prep for Opening Day, so he has plenty of time to get ready as long as he avoids setbacks.

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• Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Throws on flat ground Monday

  Rotowire Feb 19, 2024

  Jansen (lat) did some flat-ground throwing Monday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.Jansen is a tad behind schedule after coming into came with a bit of general right lat soreness. However, that he's already progressed to flat-ground work is a good sign. Assuming he's healthy and not traded, Jansen is slated to open the 2024 campaign as Boston's closer.

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• Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Dealing with lat soreness

  Rotowire Feb 14, 2024

  Jansen reported to spring training Wednesday but won't immediately start a throwing program due to general lat soreness, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.Everything initially appeared to be in order after the veteran closer's individual workout Wednesday morning, but Boston GM Craig Breslow then announced the lat injury. It's believed to be a mild issue, but coming into spring training with a new injury is always a concerning development. Jansen said he hopes to being throwing in about a week, per Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald.

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• Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Present for spring training

  Rotowire Feb 14, 2024

  Jansen performed an individual workout at spring training Wednesday and doesn't appear to have any physical limitations heading into the regular season, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.Jansen didn't pitch after Sept. 12 last season following a stint on the COVID-19 injured list, but he had a normal offseason and is preparing to return to his familiar role as the Red Sox's closer. However, with Jansen in the final year of his contract and with the Red Sox not profiling as a major contender in the American League coming off an 84-loss season, Boston is reportedly listening to trade offers for the 36-year-old reliever, per Christopher Smith and Sean McAdam of The Springfield Republican. Jansen is no longer one of the game's elite closers, but he was still serviceable enough when healthy in 2023, logging a 3.63 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 52:17 K:BB in 44.2 innings while converting 29 of 33 save chances.

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• Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Shut down for year

  Rotowire Sep 29, 2023

  Manager Alex Cora announced Friday that Jansen will not pitch again this season, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.Jansen was activated off the COVID-19 injured list last weekend, but he hasn't made an appearance since Sept. 12 and the Red Sox don't have a reason to push him out there in their final two regular-season games. The veteran closer is due a $16 million salary from Boston in 2024.

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• Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Returns from COVID IL

  Rotowire Sep 23, 2023

  The Red Sox reinstated Jansen from the COVID-19 injured list Saturday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.Jansen tested positive for COVID-19 on Sept. 13 and will now return to Boston's bullpen after a 10-day absence, sending Zack Weiss back to Triple-A Worcester. The 35-year-old closer has allowed five runs in three innings across his last five appearances, and he hasn't recorded a save since Aug. 20.

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• Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Return could be pushed to next week

  Rotowire Sep 20, 2023

  Jansen (illness) has yet to be cleared and now might not return from the COVID-19 injured list until next week, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.It was reported over the weekend that Jansen was expected back when first eligible Wednesday, but that's not happening now. Once the reliever is cleared, he will need to throw a bullpen session before he's ready to rejoin the Red Sox bullpen. Boston's lone save to be recorded since Jansen went down was notched by Chris Martin, and Martin should continue to be at the top of the closer pecking order until Jansen is back.

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• Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Likely to be activated Wednesday

  Rotowire Sep 17, 2023

  Jansen (illness) is expected to be activated from the COVID-19 injured list Wednesday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.Jansen tested positive for COVID-19 following his removal from the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Yankees, but he resumed throwing this weekend and should be cleared to rejoin the Red Sox for the final game of their upcoming three-game set at Texas. John Schreiber blew a save in Jansen's absence Saturday at Toronto.

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• Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Out with COVID

  Rotowire Sep 13, 2023

  Jansen was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Wednesday after testing positive for the virus, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.The veteran right-hander was pulled from Tuesday's appearance due to fatigue and illness symptoms, and he's now tested positive for COVID-19. Jansen's absence leaves Chris Martin and John Schreiber as the likely candidates to split closing duties for the next week.

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• Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Battling illness

  Rotowire Sep 12, 2023

  Jansen was taken out of his appearance in the ninth inning of Tuesday's second game of a doubleheader against the Yankees after experiencing symptoms of fatigue and illness, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.Jansen allowed two baserunners before being pulled from Tuesday's game. Now that he's been confirmed to be dealing with fatigue and fighting off an illness, it's likely, but not certain, Jansen will be held out for a few days before making his next appearance. Josh Winckowski and Chris Martin could see an uptick in save opportunities while Jansen recovers.

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• Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Exits with trainer

  Rotowire Sep 12, 2023

  Jansen was removed from Tuesday's nightcap against the Yankees with an apparent injury, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.Jansen was removed by a trainer after allowing a walk and a single to begin the ninth inning. It's unclear at the moment what exactly is bothering Jansen, but the Red Sox should provide more information following Tuesday's game.

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• Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Blows save in extras

  Rotowire Sep 5, 2023

  Jansen (3-6) blew the save and took the loss Tuesday against the Rays. He allowed three runs (two earned) on one hit and one walk without recording an out in the 11th inning.After Boston took a one-run lead in the top of the 11th inning, Jansen issued a walk to Yandy Diaz to start the bottom of the frame before Brandon Lowe launched a walk-off homer. It's Jansen's first blown save since May 13 -- he'd converted his previous 20 save chances while pitching to a 2.57 ERA in 14 innings since the All-Star break. Overall, the 35-year-old Jansen is now 29-for-33 in save opportunities this season with a 3.43 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 52:16 K:BB across 44.2 innings.

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• Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Cleared to pitch Sunday

  Rotowire Aug 27, 2023

  Red Sox manager Alex Cora confirmed that Jansen (hamstring) will be available out of the bullpen for Sunday's series finale with the Dodgers, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.The veteran closer had been nursing a tight right hamstring since exiting in his most recent appearance Wednesday against the Astros, but he'll be ready to take the hill Sunday if a closing situation arises after he checked out fine while throwing in a live batting practice session Saturday. Jansen has been rock-solid in his age-35 campaign, converting 29 of 32 save chances while submitting a 2.81 ERA and 1.20 WHIP across 41.2 innings.

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• Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Ready to return

  Rotowire Aug 26, 2023

  Jansen (hamstring) threw a successful live batting practice session Saturday and believes he'll be available out of the bullpen Sunday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.Jansen was pulled from his outing Wednesday against the Astros with tightness in his right hamstring, but he's remained confident about avoiding the injured list. That optimism appears justified, though the Red Sox themselves haven't officially announced when he'll be available.

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• Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Not quite ready to return

  Rotowire Aug 25, 2023

  Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Friday that he'll stay away from using Jansen (hamstring) for a few more days, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.Jansen experienced tightness in his right hamstring while making a relief appearance Wednesday against the Astros and could be unavailable through Boston's three-game weekend series against the visiting Dodgers. The good news is that the veteran closer was able to throw long-toss Friday and is expected to avoid the injured list. Chris Martin and Josh Winckowski are among the fill-in options for saves.

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• Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Confident he can avoid IL

  Rotowire Aug 24, 2023

  Jansen reported improvement with his injured right hamstring Thursday and is confident he can avoid a stint on the injured list, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.Jansen had to be lifted from Wednesday's appearance in Houston because of tightness in the hamstring, but he's feeling better after presumably receiving some treatment. The closer noted that he will see how he feels in the coming days, which would seem to indicate he could be unavailable for at least a day or two. However, at this juncture it looks like Jansen should be able to bypass the IL as the Red Sox fight for a playoff spot. Chris Martin might be needed in the short term should some save chances arise for Boston.

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• Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Battling hamstring tightness

  Rotowire Aug 23, 2023

  Jansen was taken out of Wednesday's game against the Astros due to tightness in his right hamstring, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.After displaying some discomfort on the mound during the ninth inning, Jansen was taken out of the game and is now confirmed to be dealing with a hamstring issue. The severity of Jansen's injury remains unknown, but Boston could refrain from using him out of the bullpen for the next few days at the very least.

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