BoSox Injection
Fansided

10 free agents the Red Sox should target when the lockout ends

By Daniel Fox

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 10: Kyle Schwarber #18 of the Boston Red Sox hits a solo homerun in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays during Game 3 of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park on October 10, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 10: Kyle Schwarber #18 of the Boston Red Sox hits a solo homerun in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays during Game 3 of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park on October 10, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 11
Next
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 21: Kenley Jansen #74 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after the final out of the ninth inning of Game Five of the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on October 21, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Braves 11-2. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 21: Kenley Jansen #74 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after the final out of the ninth inning of Game Five of the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on October 21, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Braves 11-2. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Red Sox free-agent target – CP Kenley Jansen

Ever since future Hall of Famer Craig Kimbrel departed after 2018, the Red Sox have searched for their next great closer. Brandon Workman and Matt Barnes showed flashes of being that guy, but each collapsed when given an extended look at the ninth-inning role. With Aroldis Chapman in New York, Liam Hendriks in Chicago, and Ryan Pressly in Houston, the AL is filled with elite finishers that the Red Sox simply can’t compete with.

Signing Kenley Jansen, however, would completely shift the balance of power. Jansen has been arguably the most consistent closer in baseball over the last ten years. From 2011 to 2017, Jansen posted a ridiculous 2.16 ERA and saved 32 games a year. He was still great over the following three years, but his ERA slipped to 3.38, and his K/9 dropped from 14.0 to 11.0. As he entered his age 33 season, many began to believe that Jansen’s best days were behind him.

The 2021 season would silence those doubters. Over his last 27 2/3 innings, Jansen allowed just two runs and converted all 16 save opportunities. He continued dominating right into the postseason, tossing seven scoreless innings and punching out 14. He looked like the Kenley Jansen of old, as even his cutter and sinker velocities returned to 2017 levels.

Like Freeman, Jansen will likely cost a pretty penny to bring to Boston, and it’s unlikely the Dodgers would let him go. But if the Red Sox are serious about competing over the next few years, they would finally bring in the big-name closer they have been missing.

Home/Red Sox News