The Braves have a new closer, as they announced agreement Friday evening with Kenley Jansen on a one-year, $16MM contract. (Atlanta discloses their own contract terms). The Wasserman client had spent his entire career with the Dodgers, but he’s headed to one of the National League’s other powerhouses this season. In order to clear space on the 40-man roster, Atlanta placed reliever Jay Jackson on the 60-day injured list to a right lat strain.
A three-time All-Star and two-time Hoffman Award winner (as the National League’s top reliever), Jansen is one of the best late-game arms in recent memory. The consistently excellent closer has never posted an ERA above 3.75 in his 12-year big league career, and he’s put up an ERA below 3.00 in eight separate seasons.
Jansen remained great last season, pitching to a 2.22 mark in 69 outings. He saved 38 games and struck out a stellar 30.9% of batters faced. That wasn’t quite at the level of his peak — when Jansen was punching out more than two-fifths of opponents while allowing fewer than two earned runs per nine — but it was nevertheless among the league’s best production. Among the 138 relievers with 50+ innings pitched, Jansen checked in 15th in ERA and 29th in strikeout percentage. He generated swinging strikes on 15.2% of his pitches, the 22nd-highest mark among that same group.
In addition to his ability to miss bats, Jansen has consistently excelled at limiting hard contact. Possessing an excellent cutter that stays off barrels, he consistently ranks among the league’s best in terms of checking opponents’ exit velocities and rates of solid contact. That continued last season, with opponents making hard contact (defined as a batted ball with an exit speed of 95 MPH or higher) on only 26.1% of balls in play against him. That’s nearly ten points lower than the 35.4% league average, although it’s par for the course for Jansen.
If there was anything to nitpick in Jansen’s performance, it’s that his once-stellar control got a bit wobbly. He walked 12.9% of opponents last year, his highest rate since his 2010 rookie season. That marked the fourth consecutive year in which Jansen’s walk percentage climbed relative to the year prior, and it was his first season in a decade walking more batters than the average reliever did. That didn’t prevent him from having plenty of bottom-line success, though, and the Braves aren’t locking themselves into a long-term investment.
The 34-year-old reliever signs a one-year deal, shy of MLBTR’s two-year, $26MM projection entering the offseason. The deal brings the Braves payroll to an estimated $185MM, according to Jason Martinez of Roster Resource. That’s uncharted territory for the organization, but Atlanta brass has maintained throughout the winter they’d push their spending upwards on the heels of a World Series run. Their luxury tax ledger, meanwhile, sits around $208MM — about $22MM shy of the base threshold.
Jansen’s signing is the most important step in what has been something of a bullpen makeover in Atlanta. The Braves also added Collin McHugh and Tyler Thornburg, both of whom can step into immediate work. McHugh, coming off an excellent season, seems likely to take on high-leverage innings for manager Brian Snitker. Former closer Will Smith now steps into that mix as well, as Jansen’s signing bumps him from the ninth inning. Speaking with reporters (including Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution) this evening, president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos confirmed Smith was willing to cede the ninth inning in order to strengthen the overall roster. Smith, McHugh, Tyler Matzek, Luke Jackson and A.J. Minter form the core of what could be a very difficult late-innings mix to crack for opposing lineups.
That’s before even considering the presence of former All-Star closer Kirby Yates, whom the Braves signed before the lockout. The righty is still on the mend from a March 2021 Tommy John surgery, but he’s expected to factor into the mix down the stretch. Atlanta no doubt envisions playing meaningful games into September and October as they reload for what they hope will be another title run.
Along the way, they very well may come up against the Dodgers. There’d be plenty of intrigue if the clubs meet again in the playoffs, as they’ve now poached franchise icons from one another in recent days. Atlanta brass certainly didn’t allow the Dodgers’ finalization of a six-year deal with Freddie Freeman this afternoon to influence their pursuit of Jansen, but the fanbase and some in the organization probably feel some amount of satisfaction in poaching a marquee player from L.A. There was already going to be plenty of intrigue every time the two teams met this season. Jansen heading to Atlanta will only take that up another notch.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Woah.
Looks like my old team is getting stacked to attempt a repeat championship without me. How rude!
More so, if anything, it was rude of YOU to leave THEM. Just sayin
Yeah considering the money was like the same after you factor in income taxes, everyone that said the braves were being cheap need to delete their accounts.
I like the action!
Good short term signing for the Braves. Not the closer probably of old but for that length and $$$ good deal. The Dodgers don’t need a closer in the Playoffs when they are all starting games and then bringing in the starters at the end to get shelled. Some day they will win again maybe. This time a real title not some 60 game tourney. 33 years and counting
Everyone played the same tournament. Not everyone blew a 3-1 lead.
I think the dodgers did the right thing by letting him go
Correct. Love the guy but he’s definitely on the back nine.
Agree. He may not be toast, but the Braves were smart as to keep it at one year.
MLB is a bullpen game.
Deep depth needed.
Jansen doesn’t have to be a workhorse or a closer.
He also can’t give up a late inning homer in a playoff game. Something he’s been known for the last few years. He can’t be trusted when it matters the most.
He didn’t need to be the workhorse or closer in LA. He DEMANDED it.
100%
It was said he’ll be the closer over will Smith. Jp morosi said it after the signing last night.
Will Smith also can’t be trusted. Trade him for a fourth starter.
And bullpen pitchers can be studs one year duds the next or duds then studs . If starter gets rocked bullpen is useless .
They are letting him go a year sooner than a year too late
Yep!
It’s only a one year deal, though. Kind of surprised they let him go if he could be had for such a short term deal.
He should have taken the qualifying offer. It was 1 yrs 20 mil.
Yeah I like Jansen but it was time for the Dodgers to move on. With the exceptions like Rivera and Hoffman, most closers have a small window of dominance. Jansen lasted longer than most, but I think his time has ended…or at least close to it.
Hoffman dominate? When?
Wow, is that a real question from a real baseball fan?
@JosephGonzalez
Did they? That remains to be seen. Who’s closing? Graterol?
Blake
Yes?
The Dodgers have depth. As a Dodgers fan I have been fine with letting Jansen go for a couple years now. He simply hasn’t been very reliable. Not a bad pickup for the Braves, though. Especially on a one-year deal.
These ppl don’t know. The game is changing. CLOSER BY COMMITTEE is how it’s done, son!!! If you’re asking who is going at the heart of the order, you’re an idiot. Blake Treinen exists
@TommyLaSutton
You have to stop playing fantasy games.
Seriously, quit acting like you know everything Tommy LaStupid lol
Ever since he started having heart issues, its been downhill.
38 saves and 2.22 ERA is pretty reliable.
Huge get for the braves. They have a great chance to repeat
If the team they play in the LCS again I’d decimated my injuries then yeah, they definitely have a shot.
The Braves were without Acuna, Ozuna, and Soroka. Equally if not worse devastated. Get over it.
What about their pitching? Same?
Also Soler was on the Covid list and missed the series.
If ozuna or Acuna not out, do Braves pick up Duvall or Rosario or even soler? Rosario was the one that killed the dodgers. Also, kershaw and muncy were both out so that offsets siroka and ozuna.
Acuna couldn’t have been that valuable if they won without him.
Kershaw usually doesn’t show up to the post season anyway.
Darren, if you truly think that, you pay no attention at all. Acuna is the only reason they weren’t out of it by mid season. He carried the team until he got hurt.
If the Dodgers don’t have injuries, do they pick up turner and Scherzer?
If the moon was made of cheese would you eat it?
You can ask what-ifs ad infinitum, but to use them in attempt to cheapen another team’s accomplishments is just juvenile.
Like how Braves fan say they had the same injury situation “get over it” … and yet ignore that they played the same 2020 season and call the ring “fake” …ok. “get over it”
If not worse devastated, and yet they had home field advantage, weaker playoffs opponents and skipped the WC Game despite being > 16 game worse. The Braves were given the easiest path to a title and they didn’t earn that path at all.
you haven’t won an actual ring since 1965 (your closer got caught cheating on live tv in the 1988 nlcs, 81 and 2020 were reduced seasons), get over it.
besides, tommy died pretending cubby didn’t have aids, but everyone in l.a. knew otherwise.
Wow… LMAO
I thought the Dodgers were pretty healthy. Roberts just kept using the starters as relievers. In the end, that came back to bite them.
Lol the Braves were missing their best pitcher, their best position player along w the rest of the outfield. L-OH-L
The guy they replaced ozuna and Acuna with, Rosario, soler, pederson and Duvall. Do Braves make those moves is they were healthy. It was Rosario that carried the team vs the dodgers. Dodgers were missing muncy and kershaw too. Injuries happen. Braves got hot. May have been different without the players they picked up
Agree 100%. No way Acuna could ever carry a team like Rosario did.
Braves were pretty smart to pick up such great players just at the right time.
Surprised they didnt pick up pujols and Duffy.
Lol so salty
What?
A I don’t think so!
they certainly will be in the mix and that’s all you can ask for. but it is really hard to repeat and especially so as the playoff field keeps growing.
The rich just keep getting richer.
The smart just keep getting better.
Dick is short for Richard… shouldnt it be “the dick get dickier”?
Haha, take that Dodgers….
seriously, why?
In the words of Dave Chappelle f*** em thats why
If you have to ask “why” then you do not understand much.
Why sign him or why let him go? Why sign him? You’ll find out during the season. Why let him go? You’ll find out in the playoffs.
Seems like way too much. Nig fan of what Atlanta is doing, but not in love with this one.
Its not bad for a 1 year contract tho. Either it works out and they have a high end reliever, or it doesnt work and hes gone next winter.
They think they can win the whole thing so they’re going for it. What else were they going to do with that money? Would they have even spent that money on someone(s) bat or arm who’s not a better player than Jansen? I desperately wanted Soler back but I’m over it. His arm is worth way more than Soler’s bat.
@Smacky: Freddie would have been nice.
He had his chance
That’s on him. Now Shohei Ohtani would’ve been nice.
It’s a one-year deal.
Closer’s aren’t cheap once they hit free agency. They didn’t address this sooner so gotta pay the price. They didn’t overpay by much and when you have a contender it’s ok to splurge a little on a 1 year deal.
Shutdown bullpen for the 7th 8th and 9th to immediately shorten any game. Feels a little bit retaliatory against the Dodgers getting Freeman, but also fits well to make them stay competitive with the top of the league.
Braves could have had Freeman. With them moving on, he was going to go somewhere.
Yeah they could have, but the word coming out today that Freeman’s reps might have dropped a short term ultimatum on the team is a little odd.
Yeah and then Freeman lied at the press conference today about it, lost a lot of respect for him today after I read Buster Olney’s article which as a Braves fan is a shame.
Yeah, lost a lot of respect for Freddie. I respect his game but the man, not so much.
What did he lie about?
Neither side states their true position in contract negotiations.
Neither side deserves sympathy everyone went home happy.
Fans disappointed, for now, but winning makes them happy.
I think Atlanta should have kept Freeman, bigger projected asset for years 1, 2 and 3, even though Olson will be stronger in years 4, 5 and 6. But it is a close call and our sympathy can go to those who need it. Freeman is wealthy and in a great spot, Atlanta still has a great team. Time for some BASEBALL!
He said that he had only two communications with the Braves during the whole period. Once before lockout. Once after lockout. What he failed to mention was the last minute contract proposal that he submitted to the Braves with only an hour to respond. That’s BS…
Lol
“shutdown” and “Kenley Jansen”? Surely, you jest.
Pretty sure the Braves will carry more than one pitcher in the bullpen? And he is getting added to a bullpen that was basically the MVP of the playoffs. So yes, Matzik, Minter, Jackson, Smith, Jansen, and by August, Yates = shutdown bullpen. Surely you jest.
Shut down? You obviously aren’t a Dodger fan. Kenley on the mound is anxiety time always!
90% of fans of every team think their closer is an anxiety inducing madman who can’t close games because the nature of the position is to remember the failures more than the successes. By most objective metrics, Kenley has been one of the best relievers in baseball for like a decade. Confirmation bias doesn’t change that.
He’s the closer, Professor Positive. Good luck with him throwing 89 one day and 95 the next. All the rest of the names do not matter when he’s the designated 9th inning guy.
wat.
1 year $16 mil, WOW and they wouldn’t resign Freeman, that’s crazy
Freeman didn’t want to re-sign, no matter how much he spins it.
BS ; Atlanta organization total of two phone calls just to check in? ATL was moving along without Freeman all along.
How do you know that? Was the entire exchange live streamed?
Go read Buster Olney’s article, Freddie did the Braves dirty.
I’m already sick of the Freddie crap. Dude is gone. These people need to move on. They’re like a high school girl that broke up with their boyfriend.
Freddie did himself dirty. AA had to build a team and he couldn’t start until the Freeman situation was resolved one way or the other.
How?
Lol no
This is so juvenile.
It reminds me of listening to lazy family members complain that someone else only contacts them a few times a year. When they themselves don’t do squat. Or they could initiate sometime also. They feel wounded and only focus on what someone else doesn’t do often enough.
It was quite clear Freeman expected to return but the Braves didn’t call.
They did with a 140mm 5year deal but freddie didnt want it.
Lol nope
The girlfriend (braves) only called twice? Wow. This ongoing drama of hurt feelings is so strange.
Freeman, man up. Tell your agent to call. Or call yourself. Is this junior high? Technology works both ways.
Not to mention the contract Freeman’s replacement got
Wow. Braves fans turned on Freddie 30 seconds after the Olson trade. Players don’t matter it’s all about the uniform.
Players turn on fans all the time.
So?
CJML, players do matter. Players that lie tend to catch flack. Freddie has earned his flack.
I root for the Atlanta Braves not the Atlanta Freemans.
It’s true. The cubs gutted their entire roster and they all became villains within two blinks of an eye. It takes one perceived slight and nobody cares about you anymore. The narrative that you need to keep these aging veterans to make the fans happy is absolutely absurd. The fans get on board very quickly. I personally think the Braves are a better team now and going forward. The amount of freeman bashing by Braves fans is pretty comical though.
@getreal- you are correct! I’m old school with regards to fandom. I follow a team, not a player. It seems like the younger generation follow players and are not married to a team.
Lol no one is turning on Freddie calm down. They’re sick of talking about the process that led to him leaving. And don’t lump us all in there because of three people moaning about it
Freddie just didnt like what the Braves were willing to spend, Thats all, the story is over. Its Done
Amazing turnaround for fair weather Braves fans. Have to say that Freeman has more respect from baseball fans than you guys.
So not rooting for Freddie after he leaves the Braves makes one a fair weather braves fan?!
You don’t know what fair weather fan means, do you?
You should see what Dodgers fans are doing to Jansen. They’re acting like he was a combination of Bob Wickman and John Rocker. It’s weird as hell on the Instagram of the radio station that carries their games (I live out here).
I support the name on the front, not the name on the back.
Matt Olson is going to put up the same kind of numbers I think it was a smart move by the Braves letting Freeman go an trading for Olson
I wonder if he’ll split with will smith or we just trying to stack the bullpen
I’d say yes to both. They can go with the hot hand or play the situation.
This is the main positive for me with this signing.
Now, with the addition of Jensen, Snitker is no longer forced to make Will Smith face a gauntlet trio of RHHs. If Snit sees it coming ahead of time an inning or so before he can work the more favorable matchups in the 7th, 8th, and 9th for Minter, Matzek, Will Smith, and now Kenley Jensen..
Solid move, but alot of money even though it’s just a 1 yr deal..
If it was Jensen or Soler, and Soler wasn’t demanding 4 years, then they should have went with Soler and just signed a different RHP for the pen…
Not any comparable RHP RPs available. You’ve got some teams possibly trading decent prospects for Kimbrel who may or may not be available after CHW picked up his 16M option. Jansen gets 16M, no prospects given up and just as good of a track record.
Jansen is gping to be thr full time closer. He isnt being brought in to ever pitch the 8th.
Really? Will Smith did a good job. ERA 0.00 in World Series. 2021 Post season era v Milwaukee, LA Dodgers, Houston=0.00. 11 ip 0 runs.
Hmmmm…
I think they needed a starter instead of a pen guy, but AA has been on fire since his tenure.
I really thought they’d be the ones to land Greinke. Seemed like a near perfect fit. They already have Morton, Fried, Anderson, and Ynoa. The starting pitching market is looking quite thin now. Might be better off to find a #5 between Davidson or Muller at this point. The best SPs left on the market are Cueto, Brett Anderson, and Smyly. You’d probably get comparable production from Davidson or Muller and save money while at it.
@ mlb1225;
Lots more bullpen games coming……for all teams.
Rays set the trend. Starting staffs my well drop to 3 in the not too distant future.
Currently they call #4 & 5 pitchers starters, but many teams are happy to pull those pitchers after 3 or 4 innings. Believe all teams use over 30 pitchers a year – with a virtual staff on their AAA and AA affiliates. I think the 30 number is on its way to 40.
Pretty sure the Dodgers signed Anderson sometime this afternoon
Good signing. Great closer, but be forewarned, he can go on a bad streak from time to time.
That’s a given. I’m pretty sure that can be said for every baseball player on every team.
Jansen is good, but i don’t think he’s worth $16M at this point in his career. I bet Liberty doesn’t clear $104MM in profit in 2022
Jansen reinvented himself and was lights out last year. For those who only remember him from 2-3 years ago
Not really lights out. Caused Dodgers 1st place with his BS against the Giants.
Jansen blew three big games vs the Giants. One on a swing that wasn’t called correctly, but nevertheless Jansen was the reason the Dodgers lost the division. Crucial games he definitely is not lights out.
Jansen was the reason for 3 losses of 56. So he’s the reason they didn’t get first in the west? What about the other 53 games they lost?
The other 53 were not all against the giants. When they were fighting for first, and he blew three games, then yes it was his fault.
Every closer does.
You take my first baseman, I’ll take your closer!
Jansen has a great career but the bb/9 rate skyrocketed last year. At least it is just 1 year. Way more money than I would have guessed.
He also cannot hold runners. He’s either 1-2-3 or Rolaids city.
Frustrating closer, he’s either lights out or gives up leads
Have you watched any other closer in baseball? Will Smith blew like 8 leads in a row going into the playoffs! Lol
Those being the only two possibilities.
I was just looking at the free agent tracker and I saw Jansen on it and said to myself that is the only top player left, Someone was reading my mind. Go Braves
Correa and Story don’t count as top players left?
They don’t need a shortstop!!
Well, we’ll see what Story can do outside of Coors and if Correa can manage to play 100 games.
Correa has played 92 percent of games over the last two years. That works out to 147 games over a 162 season.
This smells bad… 16M for 1 year of Jansen?
That’s an overpay. Makes me question ATL holding out on that 6th year to Freddie.
Was hoping to see Soler & can only assume this spends the money that would have been used to get him. Jansen probably helps the team more though if you had to pick one.
Seems to me that Jansen has been trending down as of late.
Guess we’ll find out either way.
Can’t say they aren’t going for it though.
Read Olney’s article and you’ll question no more. Freddie looks bad.
I did… Chipper summed it up pretty well. Can’t keep playing games with AA when he’s got a team to finish building & you’re holding it up.
Worse than anything was the way his agents handled the scenario with dropping the 2 option ultimatum that were both richer deals than what he ended up getting.
They tried to strong arm AA and he said I ain’t havin’ that! Pivoted to Olson and likely made the team better overall.
All that serves to say Freddie needed better agents. At the same time though he could have & should have taken the 5 for 140m.
To then turn around and shade AA and lie about the communication situation between him and the Braves…
Freddie wanted to haggle instead of staying where he belongs & then played the victim after the fact.
It sucks man… The two sides easily could have worked out a mutual option or something for the 6th year. Even could have re-upped after the completion of a 5 year deal.
What’s done is done. It bugs me to know that we likely won’t get any Freddie statues at Truist because of the way all this has gone down. He was supposed to retire a Brave & carry the Chipper torch.
Freddie would have made nearly 300M in his career w/ the Braves if he took their offer.
It wasn’t like the Braves didn’t take care of him in his career. He said it himself, the Braves were the only ones to believe in him outside of being a pitcher.
I have to trade him in the The Show 21′ now & i’m having a hard time doing it…
Freddie doesn’t come out looking good but it’s an emotional time for all parties involved & I can’t “hate” him because his agents screwed up.
Screw the Dodgers,
Hope Freddie still does well,
Maybe he can come back later to retire @ home on a 1yr deal,
Lastly GO BRAVES & WIN IT ALL AGAIN!
this
If you believe that Atlanta offered 5 years $140 million but would not do 6 years $162 million, then I think the Atlanta made a big mistake.
It is likely that Olson will be much better than Freeman in years 4, 5 and 6 of the Freeman contract. But it is also likely that Freeman will be better in years 1, 2 and 3 of the contract. The Atlanta ball club’s best window of opportunity is now. A small part of it is legacy and sentiment, but the big part was retaining Freeman for the first three superior seasons at the cost of inevitable decline.
Dodgers on the other hand have vastly improved adding Freeman. Muncy can play 2B, 3B or DH. Justin Turner is ready to shift to DH.
Dodgers and Atlanta remain teams to beat. Giants and Mets should be wild cards. Good for Atlanta to sign Jansen. keeps jansen for Dodgers, Mets and Phillies who all needed him more than Atlanta ho already had a pretty good bullpen.
Agree on the Freeman situation. His agent mishandled the negotiations badly.
My first reaction to the Olsen trade was that we paid too much for 2 years of him and that it could be the whole Teixeira trade again. Then when he signed a way below market extension, the trade seemed like a genius move by AA.
With Freeman it was the opposite. When I heard he signed with the Dodgers for 6/162, I thought it was great for him and maybe his agent was right to hold out all along. But then, when it was mentioned that a chunk if it was deferred and the actual value was about 140M, which is what ATL offered for 5 years, it became clear that his agent completely screwed Freddie.
Nah. Freeman said that when the Braves made their offer last season, he sent them a counter, and never got an answer. He also said the Braves were only barely in contact with him afterwards, and when they didn’t bother to inform him of the Olsen trade, he felt blindsided. So basically he got the talk to the hand treatment from the Braves, so when the Dodgers approached him, he was ready to move on. This would be the real story.
Jansen might feel somewhat the same way, but the Dodgers did talk to him about a one year contract. He was looking for three.
Yeah. I agree with BraveLil’Toaster. Jansen still has something left in the tank and I will even go so far as to say that the chances are good that Jansen earns every penny of this deal. But, still…was the difficulty in signing both Jansen and Freeman **the reason** that the Braves could not be even slightly bothered to give Freeman the 6th year? If so, that’s just messed up.
Kenley on his last year of a contact is lights out….I have a feeling you will be eating crow.
Hell I hope you’re right. I’m not saying Jansen isn’t good. That would be rediculous.
Just that was a big check to cut that possibly could have been better utilized?
But it wasn’t long ago the bullpen was killing ATL consistently. It certainly makes the team better.
Jansen sucks so hard that super genius GM AA threw $16m at him! At this point I’m gonna lean to having faith in AA’s evaluations in liue of random Internet commenters (self included) on some obscure free baseball transactions site. That’s just me though.
I can see this new sing the white Sox and blue jays are gonna have a meeting about Craig
Yeah. Not sure if Toronto pursued Jansen, but it is a match to Kimbrel’s 1yr salary. WSox now know they can maybe get a lotto ticket to dump his salary. Perhaps Padres or Mets also interested.
He’ll get lit up in that ballpark
Announce my divorce
I forgot about this guy.
If it were a multi-year deal I’d be 100% with you in that thought process but damn, this hurts. I wouldn’t have been opposed to a 1 year deal like this, he pitched lights out the second half and beyond last season and looked like he did when he was the best in the game.
Was hoping the Phils made a run at him, but not at that price.
Worth it for a highly motivated proven closer. That’s why Philly will likely finish 3rd place and out of playoffs.
The giants continue to make big moves
I thought the Dodgers signed everyone? Unless it’s Seager and Jansen.
Decent pickup for the Braves. Dodgers vs Braves in the playoffs could be interesting this year (if they both get there)
Jansen is still one of the best in the game, but when his mechanics are off, you can’t trust him in a close game. I hope the Braves have a good pitching coach…
Thankfully they have a deep bullpen so if he struggles, he can have a few days to get right without being in pressure situations.
He gets rattled easily
350 career saves at age 34.
Seems a lock for 400+ which is pretty rarified air. Didn’t realize it until I checked his B-Ref page, but he is loosely on a HOF track.
DODGERS have one more splash play after this. Good riddance Kenley
Really hope it’s free agent Jose Ureña. Need to take this rivalry into unfriendly territory.
Down for that lmao
Nando390
“Good riddance Kenley”
Why the negativity?
Kenley had a GREAT run with LA, a couple down seasons mostly awesome. Freddie and CT bring more to the team so I am fine with cutting Kenley loose and Seager loose. But absolutely nothing bad to say about the guy.
Agreed. Great Dodger. He’s not elite as he was before but love it how he reinvented himself from being cutter only pitcher to mixing in four seam and slider. He embraced change and believed in himself even when the fans boo’d him.
But the Liberty Media hates us and wants to keep us poors so they can have all the monies narrative just died. Dead dead.
Kenley is a gamble at this point.
All players are a gamble. Past performance is not indicative of future performance, it’s a guide only. I’ll take a guy with 350 career saves and 88.6% save rate that strengthens the Braves bullpen in a big way.
Anyone know how much money the Braves have left to spend?
$13.47
That 3 reminded me how much Nascar sucks.
you suck
As much as needed. They don’t need much.
I watched Jansen play catcher for the Netherlands in the 2009 WBC. He’s done well for himself – good to see.
That’s pretty cool to look back on. Knew he was a catcher at some point. That’s a big boy back there
At some point, yeah. More like five years. He was about to wash out of baseball when someone in the organization suggested he try out as a pitcher.
We will see how much those Braves fans love him when he gives up a game winning bomb in the 9th to matt Olson
They’re already getting rid of Olson?
drugs?
Huh!?! Are they broadcasting 9inning intersquad scrimmages now??
Best matchup still Will Smith versus Will Smith.
Runner up: Freddie Freeman versus Kenley Jansen.
They could have signed one of the quality starters that have been available for around that price. Hopefully this is one of AA’s brilliant moves in the making. Just have to trust the man, with the job he and the team have done the past few years they’ve earned that trust.
Please point me in the direction of the quality starters that are currently on the free agent market.
Yeah, that is slim pickings…The Braves are better off trying out their young and talented starters, and then strengthening and lengthening their bullpen…Which is precisely what they’ve just done, especially by adding a quality RH to mix in with all their LH high leverage arms…
It just makes alot more sense for the Braves to give their #4 and #5 spots to guys like Kyle Wright, Kyle Muller, Huascar Ynoa, and/or the likes of Tucker Davidson, Bryce Elder, or Spencer Strider…(or even Mike Soroka too when he’s back and ready near July’ish)
They may not be able to go more than 5 innings to stay on low innings counts, but now with Thornburg, O’Day, Webb, McHugh, L.Jackson, Minter, Matzek, Will Smith, and Kenley J., (PLUS Kirby Yates come August) they’re MORE than capable of filling in the remaining innings without getting any one or two arms worn down…
What quality starter? They are pretty good with starters but needed a pen piece.
Whoops meant Alonzo.
I’d just give it up at this point…But you mean Pete [Alonso]??
Braves are going to run away from the pack in the NL East…wow
AA is playing chess while the rest of the league plays Go Fish.
what happens when he faces Freddie Freeman in ATL?
Its called Baseball!
Noooooo. this isn’t grasshopper?
Freeman probably rakes a line drive out right to either Albies or Swanson in the shift…lol
I’m more interested in what happens when Matt Olson & Freddie run across each other @ 1st base.
They probably talk about stock portfolios.
160M buys a LOT of stonks lol
Overpay…..
Well, they couldn’t do much else with that money this season if all their other targets are demanding 3 and 4 years or longer contracts…
Gonna be real funny if Kenley Jansen ends up striking out Freddie Freeman to win the Braves the 2022 NLCS.
Are Braves fans the type to stick it to Freddie an extra roar?
I’m OK with replacing Chavez and Martin with McHugh and Jansen! This team looks like a much better team than last year, in my opinion. So do the Mets and Phillies though, it should be a fun summer.
Yeah, but now everyone in their pen is so good, who are they going to use when it is garbage time and they are either winning or losing by 7-8 runs???
Tomlin and Chavez were perfect for that, and actually performed so well they both earned more high leverage spots the past two seasons…lol
That’s okay I guess, these are World Series contenders’ types of problems..lol
Powerful bullpen. Going to use younger talent in 4th/5th starter roles. Strong relief will seal the deal.
Dodgers ‘fans’ are the worst. They are so disrespectful to a guy with 350 saves and 88.6% save rate. I’m not surprised he left, it’s an excellent acquisition for the Braves.
To all the people talking utter rubbish about Freeman, go and read Buster Olney’s piece and educate yourself. Freddie had a pen, he could have signed if he loved the Braves. The facts are that he made it about a contract & himself, and not the team. The End.
Good luck Kenley and thanks for all the time in blue. Wish you the best except when you play us.
Like
Smart pickup by the Braves. Teams are loading up on bats and this may be his last good year and with a 1 year deal teams sadly don’t have to worry about over using guys. He goes down he goes down and it’s just salary. Next man up. These type of guys need to get 2 year deals.
Braves should now hope Wright earns the #4 spot, and then ride either Ynoa, Muller, Davidson, Elder, or Strider for 4-5 innings each 5th time out, and have McHugh and their pen finish those games off…
Pitching staff is all set, bench still has some question marks with Arcia really the only backup MI, but Pina and/or Contreras, Heredia, and Dickerson are all solid options..Braves just need one more backup corner infielder if Arcia is their backup 2B/SS..
I still want another veteran starter in the mix. Trade for one.
It comes down to the Braves and the Dodgers in the National League, I take the Braves
No doubt these are the best two NL teams on paper, Dodgers and Atlanta. But I would take the field (e.g., the other 13 teams including Giants, Mets, Brewers) over those two. This is baseball and with an expanded post-season it is all about getting hot at the right time and healthy starting pitching.
Well, that’s the Braves sending a statement to the NL East and the NL.
Just read Buster’s article, I have lost all respect for Freddy, there is no way you will be remembered with the likes of Chipper Jones, Chipper had class, Freddy does not know the meaning of the word.
Chipper had class? Right.
From what I’ve read, Freddie was screwed by his agent. But it doesn’t matter now. Freddie is the same guy he’s been for the last twelve years. He just plays for a different team.
Go find Buster Olney’s piece on the Freeman negotiations. Answers many of our questions. What a cluster.
Buster Olney is a pretty good journalist but Chipper has strong ties to Atlanta ball club so I take the article for only so much.
@MannyBeingMVP
Give me a break. You think Chipper is going to be loose with the truth?
Braves and these 1 year deals, good business model.
I don’t like removing Smith from the closers role, he was as clutch as can be in the post season. 11 ip for no runs, you can’t beat that. Jansen on the other hand has given up a lot in World Series, and he has an ERA of 4.40 14 ip 7 er and 5HR. If the Braves are playing the Dodgers in the post season and it’s a 1 run ballgame, I want to see Smith not Jansen.
I’d give you a thousand thumbs up on this if I could. Smith was indeed Clutch, with ice water in his veins last October. As good as KJ is, he was mediocre compared to Will Smith.
Wow… whatta an overpay. No wonder the Cubs didn’t bite. Jansen isn’t worth half of that money.
Then you really must think the White Sox are nuts to have Kimbrel at $16, too, lol. At least Jansen had a really good season in 21.
Jansen for one year, $16 million is a terrific signing. Not sure what you’re talking about.
Dodgers-Braves NLCS…..Book it!
Freddie v Kenley. 2 outs. 1 more to end the inning. . “KENLEY STRIKE 3!we go to the top of the 9th. Dodgers lead 6-2.”
Yep, if the dodgers can close this one out they will win their first game in the series and only be down 3-1.
@TommyLaSutton
You’ll be down and out. Boom.
youtube.com/watch?v=5d2sFAHSMWI
Way too early.
Gonna tell you ppl like I told other Dodger fans: NOT ALL SAVES ARE CREATED EQUAL!!! they would talk about his save numbers completely ignoring how many of em were Kenley getting bailed out by the defense. Or how many blown saves were Kenley getting bailed out by the offense. During the season you’re gonna see a lot of “well it’s better than what we’ve had” … and a lot of “F*** THIS GUY” … have fun on Twitter.
nothing but love for Kenley
wish he was a bit more flexible
but 16m for a year wtf do i know?
Dodgers fans are still salty and still talking **** on here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d2sFAHSMWI
The Braves bullpen is suddenly looking rather studly. Really their entire pitching staff is looking quite good, and they have a bunch of good pitching prospects due up soon too. Both the present and the future are pretty bright for them.
This move doesn’t make a ton of sense… our bullpen is loaded and overflowing…. Plus this is an expensive move. We really need a starting pitcher more than KJ. I suppose we needed another right handed arm, and we sorta stick it to the dodgers here. But, overall not a necessity. Maybe we are gonna move towards more bullpen games. If so, THEN this move makes a ton of sense and I love it. I love having elite talent no matter what, so my complaining is more we have a couple other holes this money could address. Like I already said, SP and OF/bench
So much for picking up Will Smith as a closer in fantasy baseball…
Can’t help but think the move for Jansen is a prelude to another move by the Braves – SP perhaps?
Ugh. What a waste of cash.
I think the bullpen is looking good. I am not thrilled Freddie left but I think Matt Olson is going to be huge on this team with WAY more good hitters around him in Atlanta. Considering the only bat he had around him in Oakland was Matt Chapman. I can see Matt Olson hitting 40-50 home runs in 2022 with the Braves.
Maybe the Dodgers can make a trade for Chapman from the Yankees.
Why would they want to do that?
Prediction:
Will Smith will overtake and overcome Jansen for the Braves’ closer position before the 2022 regular season is over.
Whether Will Smith will forgive the ATL for shoving him out of the closer spot, after his immaculate performance in the 2021 postseason, remains to be seen.