The Detroit Tigers made a surprise run to the playoffs last season and have expectations to go on another pennant run this season.
Major League Baseball analyst Jon Vankin of Newsweek urges the Tigers to trade for Los Angeles Angels flamethrower Kenley Jansen to bolster the bullpen.
Jansen could be the Tigers’ closer or high-leverage reliever, and Vankin doesn’t expect it to cost that much to acquire him.
“If the Tigers hope to improve on their 86-win, wild card season this time around, they will likely need to solidify the closer position. By the time the trade deadline appears on the horizon, there may be a Future Hall of Famer in that crucial role available…,” Vankin wrote. “The Tigers probably would not need to surrender a top prospect to obtain a half-season rental of Jansen, but they could also offer the Curaçao native more save opportunities than the Angels — as well as a shot at the postseason.”
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Jansen signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Angels. With Los Angeles this season, he’s throwing his cutter and sinker 92.5 miles per hour, according to Baseball Savant. At age 37, he’s still throwing hard and getting batters to whiff.
Jansen has pitched six scoreless innings with the Angels this season while striking out seven. He’s also a perfect 4-for-4 on save opportunities.
Jansen is a four-time All-Star, two-time NL saves leader, two-time NL Reliever of the Year, and a World Series champion.
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