Days after the Los Angeles Dodgers signed a franchise stalwart of the Atlanta Braves in Freddie Freeman, Atlanta responded in kind.
The Braves announced on Friday night that they signed closer Kenley Jansen to a one-year deal.
#Braves Sign Kenley Jansen: pic.twitter.com/3Dp2oXjdS3
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) March 19, 2022
Welcome to Atlanta, @kenleyjansen74!#ForTheA pic.twitter.com/huLWkACyFe
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) March 19, 2022
Jansen had some struggles during the 2021 season, but he still finished the year as one of the best relief pitchers in baseball. He had a legendary career in Los Angeles. Jansen’s 350 saves are 13th on the all-time list. With the exception of the COVID-shortened 2020 season, he’s saved no fewer than 33 games in every season since 2014 and at least 25 in every year since 2012. If he does that again in 2022, he’ll move comfortably into the top-10 on the all-time list.
The Braves, of course, are also the defending World Series Champions. They defeated Jansen’s Dodgers in the NLCS. Atlanta’s closer from that 2021 season, Will Smith, is still on the roster. But Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulous said that there’s no closer controversy and that Smith was willing to cede the role to Jansen.
Jansen will be the primary #Braves closer, and Alex Anthopoulous talked to Will Smith this morning. Smith said he was all good with it, would glad to do any role, said he just wants to win another WS ring.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) March 19, 2022
Anthopoulous also noted that Jansen will have new entrance music, as 2pac’s “California Love” won’t have the same vibe in Atlanta.
Anthopoulos said Jansen will change his entrance song from California Love to Welcome to Atlanta
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) March 19, 2022
Naturally, such a high-profile player signing with the defending champs will draw a big reaction from the MLB world. That’s exactly what happened here.
https://t.co/UgiXiDiGFT pic.twitter.com/Hq6tdu76HL
— Hunter Pickett™️ (@TheRealBigSnack) March 19, 2022
OK this is a pretty good bit https://t.co/DfNiOF4jS2
— Michael Baumann (@MichaelBaumann) March 19, 2022
Alex Anthopoulos has no chillhttps://t.co/rH1OtJ8Xe8
— D.J. Short (@djshort) March 19, 2022
You can’t blink with AA lurking! https://t.co/Mu49AOqkAM
— House That Hank Built (@HouseHankBuilt) March 19, 2022
The National League goes through Cobb County. https://t.co/8MbFdo1nWv
— Justin Berger (@Justin__Berger) March 19, 2022
Jansen for Freeman isn’t exactly an equal trade. A great everyday player will always carry more weight than a great relief pitcher. But when you factor in Jansen, plus the acquisition (and subsequent extension) of Matt Olson, it’s safe to say that the Braves are loading up in a big way in their bid to repeat.
