The Boston Red Sox went full throttle this offseason but still face some questions about their roster.
After acquiring Garrett Crochet for the rotation and Alex Bregman for the infield, the team was a bit less aggressive for the bullpen. It watched 2024’s team saves leader, Kenley Jansen, take a new deal with the Los Angeles Angels over the winter and replaced him with Aroldis Chapman.
Now, the team seems to have a “two-headed monster” emerging in the closer role with Chapman and Justin Slaten, though questions persist about their roles as the team holds a number of potential closers.
“The Red Sox entered the winter with some uncertainty at the back end of their bullpen after Kenley Jansen’s two-year tenure ended,” Chris Cotillo wrote for MassLive. “Liam Hendricks’ spring struggles and minor elbow injury removed him from that mix, though he could factor back in now that he’s healthy. Garrett Whitlock also has a bit of closing experience (and) Brennan Bernardino and Justin Wilson are capable left-handed arms.”
Amid all of those options, ESPN’s David Schoenfield suggested the Red Sox could be among the trade suitors for Jansen, who might be on the block if the Angels struggle toward the midseason deadline.
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“At 37, Jansen is a long way from his dominant days with the (Los Angeles) Dodgers, but he still gets the job done, relying almost exclusively on his cutter,” Schoenfield wrote. “Is he the guy you want closing out Game 7 of a playoff series? Maybe not, but there are teams that still have some uncertainty in the ninth inning, including the Red Sox, Rangers and Cubs.”
In his 16th big-league season, Jansen has given up just four hits and no earned runs in seven innings, notching five saves in the process.
He might be far removed from his four All-Star seasons, but the early returns suggest he is still capable of owning a closer role for a contending bullpen. However, the Red Sox seem to have several options to work through before pulling the trigger on a trade, particularly for a player they cut ties with over the winter.
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