The Tigers have agreed to a one-year contract with veteran closer Kenley Jansen, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports. The deal pays Jansen $11MM, as per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, and The Athletic’s Cody Stavenhagen adds that the contract contains a club option on Jansen’s services for the 2027 season. Earlier today, MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo reported that the two sides were “deep in talks” and heading towards the final stages of a deal. Jansen is represented by the Wasserman Agency.
Will Vest is coming off a strong season as Detroit’s primary saves candidate, but Vest will now move back into a high-leverage setup role to accommodate one of baseball’s most experienced closers. Jansen has 476 career saves, and is just three saves away from passing Lee Smith for third place on the all-time list. It certainly seems possible that Jansen can reach the 500-save plateau this season, though catching Trevor Hoffman (601 saves) for the second-highest total in history doesn’t seem possible unless Jansen reaches his goal of pitching until at least through the 2029 season.
For now, however, the 38-year-old Jansen has a one-year commitment from Detroit, with the 2027 option representing a possible continuation into the right-hander’s age-39 campaign. The Tigers entered the offseason looking to reinforce their bullpen, and the team has signed Jansen and re-signed Kyle Finnegan just within the last week. Jansen’s deal probably takes the Tigers out of the running for another target in former Rays closer Pete Fairbanks.
Even after 16 Major League seasons, Jansen still has some gas in the tank, as evidenced by his 2.59 ERA over 59 innings with the Angels in 2025. However, his secondary metrics left something to be desired, as Jansen’s 24.4% strikeout rate and 44.6% hard-hit ball rate were both easily the worst of his career. A .195 BABIP and 85.2% strand rate helped Jansen’s bottom-line numbers remain in check, though his 3.94 SIERA was much higher than his actual ERA.
Jansen did post better numbers as the 2025 season went on, and the Tigers themselves were responsible for a big chunk of the damage on the righty’s ERA. (Of the 17 earned runs charged to Jansen in 2025, Detroit scored six of them in an ugly meltdown for Jansen back on May 2 in a 9-1 Tigers win over the Angels.) The stronger finish to the season provides some hope that Jansen can more fully get on track next year, and he might also be energized by again pitching for a contender after a year with the struggling Halos.
For a team that has thrived on “bullpen chaos” over the last couple of seasons, the Tigers will now move in different direction by installing a true closer in place for the ninth inning. If Jansen can come close to his 2025 production, that’s a nice plus for the team, as Vest move to a set-up role will strengthen things all the way down the depth chart.
More bullpen moves may still be coming, as between Finnegan and Jansen’s 2025 numbers, the Tigers still haven’t solved their primary goal of adding more punchout power to their bullpen. Detroit had the second-lowest bullpen strikeout rate (20.1%) of any team in baseball in 2025, ahead of only the lowly Rockies.
Finnegan setting up?
Vest
That’s not how Hinch manages. There could be up to 4-5 closers.
That might not be how hinch manages with guys like brant hurter or finnegan or vest or tyler holton
But a guy with 476 career saves is only pitching the 9th . He aint signing with a tm to pitch the 7th/8th
Yes, this ^^^^
I agree. Hinch will play matchups with everyone but Jansen.
Can’t believe the Giants seem willing to give Walker another chance as closer.
They didn’t want to pay up to bring Tyler Rogers back.
Buster has said he is good with a spring training competition. Walker will have to earn it.
In this one particular instance it makes sense. Due to Jansen’s heart condition he is not able to accompany the team to Colorado, it’s probably why none of the NL West teams have tried to sign him since he left the Dodgers. Half of the teams in the AL don’t even have to go to Colorado (the Tigers host the Rockies in September).
If it’s a one year deal then okay. He had a decent year last year.
On the surface he did.
Take away the games he threw against the Tigers, and he had an amazing year.
He and Detmers both had great years save for 2-3 outings. Now neither of them will be in the Angels pen.
Look at Jensen’s hard hit rates and BABIP. His 2.59 ERA is less solid than it first appear. His FIP was 3.98.
Only reason he’s available to a non-big spending team.
And his xFIP- was 110
Good. They need at least one more quality reliever.
A lefty
Had a really nice year here last year and is a really great guy.
I’ll gladly root for him in Detroit.
I thought he was coming back. I guess Minasians are already cellebrating Christmas.
Deep Talks, w/ Jack Handey
LOL
The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face.
It’s sad that a family can be torn apart by something as simple as wild dogs
If you ever drop your keys in molten lava, let em go, because man, they’re gone.
Are they doing this at the local water park?
Lmao how underwhelming
Finnegan and Jansen..there will be an uptick in heart attacks in the Detroit area in 2026.
I’m surprised he’s not going back to the Angels, he seemed to like it there from my understanding.
Angels can’t let him go
Waaay more teams should be in on this guy. Tigers have Finnegan and Vest already who can close.
Woo hoo! Finally, a Major Leaguer!
Tigers could do worse. Could do better but only a few better still left on the market. Still, would prefer Fairbanks to Jansen. Jansen still a solid reliever at 38. But at 38 better be for only one season. Otherwise my Joe Nathan nightmares might come back.
(shuddering at “Joe Nathan”)
And Troy Percival
Kenley won’t be their best reliever, but maybe he can gobble up 24 saves while Vest does the dirty work.
And Finnegan.
Sure
Vest is The Guy there, though
Not a bad get if this does happen. Good for the Tigers
Dang it. Was hoping the Angels would resign him
This could provide some visibility into what he thinks of the Angels and their 2026 chances.
Maybe being back Carlos Esteves
He isn’t a FA.
Wonder what some of these other rps are asking for?
Back to back days with a Jansen signing
Nice pickup, guy’s been consistently good.
Still think the importance of closers is overrated.
Yes but sometimes you have to promise them the role to sign especially with shorter term deals
Shrewd move. Have Jansen close with Finnehan setting up.
*Finnegan
Ok move as they must have felt Fairbanks was too expensive so they went for the bargain with Jansen hoping he has some gas left in the tank. However I’ll remind everyone hope is a very flawed strategy
Who’s setting up dev Mets?😂😂
Jansen-Vest-Finnegan is a heck of closing trio. Nice work, Tigers!
Jansen, Vest, Finnegan, Hanifee…maybe Melton all in the late innings.
Still think the Tigers need a mid-rotation starter that allows Melton to mature in the bullpen.
I’m not comfortable relying on Anderson in the rotation…heck, even on the staff.
I kind of like the idea of Ha-Seong Kim at SS/3B/2B. Let Baez and Meadows share CF. I’m not a fan of Bregman anyway.
Maybe Justin Verlander on a 1 yr. $15 million.
Melton should be a starter. With Skubal, Mize, and Flaherty on expiring contracts, the Tigers need to consider 2027 (in case there really is a 2027 season). Jobe will have hopefully recovered and Olson will still be in the mix.
Thanks for the memories Kenley. It was nice to have a good closer even if the rest of the staff stunk. Hope you can get to the playoffs with the Tigers.
The absolute best signing of the off-season. Check out Kenley’s 2025 stats (2.5 WAR),then just for fun, check out his career stats. $11MM for one season? You’re kidding. Really? An absolute steal!
kenley jansen who has had 25 or more saves every single season since 2012 (except covid) got a commitment of $11 mil.
devin williams who has had more than 18 saves ONE time in his career, coming off a 4.79 era year, got a commitment of $51mil from the lolmets
I’m a big fan of WHIP. Jansen has a career WHIP lower than both Vest and Finnegan over a career that’s 2x longer than each of them.
I love relief pitchers who don’t walk guys and keep guys off the bases.
I could easily see Jansen being held out until that absolute, last out has to be had.
or
Runners on 1st and 3rd in the 8th. Tigers holding a 1 run lead. Jansen is your guy ahead of Vest and Finnegan. Those 2 guys are better when starting an inning. Jansen is the guy you want when you HAVE TO GET THAT ONE GUY……OUT.
One year commitment for an aging closer with concerning metrics. This had Jed Hoyer written all over it. Cubs won’t pay for Fairbanks now that Rogers helped establish his baseline. Ricketts and the Cubs acting like a mid market club is infuriating and us Cubs fans deserve better.
Kenley looking to join the 500 save club next season.
Takes more than one pitcher to make up a bullpen. I like the signing. Also, forgot where he played in 2025 before seeing this.
Not like the Angels don’t need Detmers in the rotation, but why didn’t they keep him in the pen as the closer?
The Angels couldn’t match this? Kenley made it clear that he’d prefer to return, especially as he lives in SoCal. And he could’ve gotten his 500th save as an Angel.
Nice pick up for Detroit, Angels fell asleep there.
Nice pickup for Detroit.