Inside The Red Sox

Red Sox Star 'Went Home' With Career In Boston Likely Ending

It was a good run for the star pitcher in Boston if he decides to leave

Patrick McAvoy

Jun 28, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; A bucket of baseballs sits on the grass before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the San Diego Padres at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Jun 28, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; A bucket of baseballs sits on the grass before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the San Diego Padres at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images / Eric Canha-Imagn Images
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The Boston Red Sox made a very good move in free agency ahead of the 2023 Major League Baseball season.

Boston entered that offseason looking to improve the bullpen. The Red Sox did just that by signing one of the best closers in baseball history in, Kenley Jansen. He was coming off a year in which he led the National League with 41 saves in 2022 as a member of the Atlanta Braves.

Jansen has been a star throughout his career and he was nothing short of that after signing a two-year, $32 million deal with Boston. Although he has been great, there was plenty of trade chatter involving him. Despite this, he stuck around in Boston and appeared in 105 games with Boston while logging a 3.44 ERA and 56 total saves.

His season currently is over as he's on the Injured List, and it seems as though his time with the club also will be coming to an end. Jansen will be a free agent this winter and several high-profile teams already have been mentioned as possible landing spots.

It would be nice for him to stick around in Boston, but the Red Sox also have Liam Hendriks and may decide to spend elsewhere. If his career in Boston is done, it certainly was a good one for Jansen.

He won't be with the team for the last few days of the season as he has gone home, according to the Boston Globe's Alex Speier.

"Kenley Jansen went home," Speier said. "(Red Sox manager Alex Cora) says (Justin Slaten) has the stuff to be 'a one-inning monster or multi-inning monster.' Cora says it’s too early to discuss (Garrett Whitlock’s) role for next year."

If Jansen does decide to leave, hopefully he finds success in his next opportunity.

More MLB: Ex-Red Sox Superstar Could Be Reunion Option Under One Scenario

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Patrick McAvoy
PATRICK MCAVOY

Patrick McAvoy's experiences include local and national sports coverage at the New England Sports Network with a focus on baseball and basketball. Outside of journalism, Patrick also is pursuing an MBA at Brandeis University. After quickly rising as one of the most productive writers on the site, he expanded his reach to write for Baseball Essential, a national baseball site in Sports Illustrated Media Group. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Inside The Cardinals, please reach out to Scott Neville: nevilles@merrimack.edu

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