Earlier this week the Red Sox shut down closer Kenley Jansen, placing him on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation to officially end his season. He did not travel with the team on its last road trip to Toronto, and now it appears he isn’t going to be in Boston for the final home series either.
When the Red Sox clubhouse opened to reporters on Friday, Jansen’s nameplate was missing from his locker. Manager Alex Cora subsequently confirmed the veteran had already gone home and wouldn’t be with the club for the last few games.
“Yeah he went home,” Cora said. “I talked to him this week, and as soon as it was over two days ago, he wasn’t going to pitch. There was some stuff we talked about, there’s some other stuff that’s going on with him, so yeah.”
With Jansen about to hit free agency, the closer has in all likelihood thrown his last pitch in Boston.
The 36-year-old signed a two-year, $32 million deal prior to the 2023 season, and during his time with the Red Sox he tallied 56 saves with a 3.44 ERA in 99.1 innings. This season he converted 27 saves in 31 opportunities while posting a 3.29 ERA in 54.2 innings.
Jansen also now ranks fourth on the all-time career saves list with 447 and could conceivably surpass Lee Smith (478) for third next season.
