DETROIT (AP) — Kenley Jansen and the Detroit Tigers finalized an $11 million, one-year contract Wednesday that includes a club option for 2026.
Jansen, who ranks fourth in his career with 476 saves, is due $9 million next season, with the Tigers holding a $12 million option and a $2 million buyout.
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Jansen is a 38-year-old right-hander who was a four-time All-Star and the National League Relay Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017. His saves trail only Hall of Famers Mariano Rivera (652), Trevor Hoffman (601) and Lee Smith (478).
Jansen has 933 appearances as an active player, including 62 last season with the Los Angeles Angels. After signing a one-year deal with the Angels worth $10 million, he went 5-4 with a 2.59 ERA and 29 saves in 30 opportunities in 2025.
He has 25 saves or more in each of the last 13 non-shortened seasons. He had his fourth 40-plus save game in 2022, when he led the NFC with 41 saves for Atlanta.
The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Jansen has helped his team advance to the postseason 10 times, including in 2020 with the World Series champion Dodgers.
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In 2004, at the age of 17, he signed with the Curacao Dodgers as a catcher, became a pitcher in 2009, and played for the team from 2010-21. He then spent one season with the Braves, two years in Boston and the Angels in 2025.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
