Although the MLB trade deadline has come and gone, there will still be opportunities for contending teams to pick up quality players through the waiver wire, and for teams that want to cut some payroll to release good players in attempts to save some money.
August 31st is the deadline for players to be on an active roster if they want to play in the postseason. Free agents are also open to be signed, but at this point in the season, few quality options are available.
However, the Los Angeles Angels have a few options that would save them cash and could help other MLB organizations improve.
Angels Closer Kenley Jansen Is a Good Option
The Angels signed Kenley Jansen to a one-year, $10 million deal for this season, and he’s likely going to test free agency at season’s end, and may want to play for a contender. There would be several MLB teams in the market for Jansen, who is having another solid season for a reliever.
Jansen is a 16-year MLB veteran and has a 2.66 ERA in 44 innings this season, and 22 saves to go along with.
Bleacher Report recently named Kenley Jansen in their “15 potential waiver-wire candidates” piece:
“Of the bunch, there’s no question Kenley Jansen would be the most coveted player they could release. He is well on his way to a 13th consecutive 162-game season with at least 25 saves. And unlike the past three years, he’s doing so with a sub-3.00 ERA, last allowing an earned run in mid-June. Could be quite the gift that falls into the Texas Rangers’ closer-less lap. Either Luis Rengifo or Yoán Moncada could be worth a $1 million flyer to a contender with an infield need at the end of this month. And if no one with a worse record than the Cubs claims him, it sure would be fun if Kyle Hendricks went back there for a few starts in Septemberâmaybe a little action in October, too.”
Kenley Jansen Could Pay Major Dividends in Playoffs
In what is shaping up to be an ultra-competitive MLB postseason, a lot of teams could use Kenley Jansen for their playoff push and would have no problem picking up the remaining money on his contract. The article from BR mentions the Texas Rangers, but a potential reunion with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox also seems plausible. The Dodgers have struggled to find a closer, and Jansen spent the first 12 years of his career with Los Angeles.
The key theme among the Dodgers, Red Sox, and Rangers is that they are all contending teams. With these waiver wire players, their market is usually strictly teams that believe they can make a deep October run.
Jansen has 469 career saves, a 2.57 ERA in 912.1 innings, and a four-time All-Star. He also helped the Dodgers win the 2020 World Series Championship. If there’s a ranking of the top waiver-wire candidates, the Angels’ Â Jansen must be close to No.1 on the list.
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