Tigers undecided on Kenley Jansen's $11 million bullpen role

Conor Liguori

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Tigers undecided on Kenley Jansen's $11 million bullpen role image

With the signings of Kenley Jansen and Kyle Finnegan, the Detroit Tigers have three viable options at closer. 

Right-hander Will Vest led the AL Central club with 24 saves in 2025. 

Jansen, sitting at 476 career saves, agreed to a one-year, $11 million contract with Detroit, including a club option for 2027. The 38-year-old ranks fourth all-time in saves, but it's unclear if he will continue in the closer's role with the Tigers. 

"The one thing I can share is that before we signed Kenley, we connected him with A.J. [Hinch] so that they could have a conversation. From that conversation, we learned Kenley is all about winning," Tigers president of baseball operations told reporters, including The Athletic's Cody Stavenhagen, during an introductory video call for Jansen. "He’s willing to pitch in any spot. He just wants to be in a winning environment, and he was really attracted to Detroit as a destination.”

Jansen remains effective in the later part of career 

Jansen, born in Willemstad, Curacao, originally signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a catcher in 2004. 

He's become one of the best relief pitchers in MLB history since then, earning four All-Star selections. In 2025, he recorded 29 saves in 30 opportunities for the Los Angeles Angels. 

Whichever role he plays for the Tigers, Jansen appears determined to continue his career in a winning environment. Jansen should continue to be an effective late-inning reliever, as long as hitters don't figure out his cutter, a pitch he threw more than 80% of the time last year. 

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Senior Editor