How concerned can Boston Red Sox fans be before a single game that matters has been played? If you’ve been keeping up with the health of the players, you may already be aware of some of the troubling news potentially spoiling the coming season.
The Red Sox got through spring mostly intact. A few injuries are sure to pop up along the way for any club even if they spend all March playing in bubble wrap.
Nobody should wave a white flag just yet, however, these three offseason additions should have fans second-guessing their place with the organization.
1) Why Red Sox fans should have concerns about Kenley Jansen
The new closer for the Red Sox, Kenley Jansen, didn’t have a superb spring. In 4.2 innings of work, Jansen was 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA. Spring statistics can be easily dismissed for a pitcher as accomplished as him. What should have Red Sox fans a little less optimistic is his health.
The 35-year-old left his most recent appearance on Friday due to feeling lightheaded. While not worthy of putting him on the IL, it’s a reminder of Jansen’s past struggles with health completely unrelated to the game.
In 2011, Jansen was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat. It hasn’t stopped him from dominating on the mound. It has come up again and sidelined him in the past. It spawned up again last year as well as a member of the Atlanta Braves and landed him on the IL. The concerns are real.
From a baseball standpoint, he’s coming off of a strange season where he led the league with 54 games finished and 41 saves but did it with a 3.38 ERA. It’s the second-highest of his career.
Jansen is signed to a two-year deal with a $16 million per season contract. He can obliterate any early concerns we may have by getting out on the mound and adding to his 391 saves.