Kenley Jansen is one of the greatest closers in major-league history, but his desire to win another World Series seems to matter more to him than pitching the ninth inning.
The Detroit Tigers reliever opened up about his willingness to fulfill any role out of relief that manager A.J. Hinch asks of him in the upcoming season.
Jansen ranks fourth in major-league history in saves (476) and is a two-time winner of the NL Reliever of the Year Award. He was the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ primary closer when it won the World Series in 2020 and spent 2025 with the Los Angeles Angels, locking down 29 saves in 62 appearances.
Jansen signed a one-year contract with the Tigers that includes a club option for 2027 in December.
Kenley Jansen Wants To ‘Help’ The Tigers Win Any Way He Can
Under Hinch, the Tigers have had a primary closer but have also supplemented him in save situations throughout the season — and postseason. Four Tigers relievers had multiple saves in 2025, led by Will Vest’s 23. But Tommy Kahnle also posted nine saves, despite his minus-0.2 bWAR.
But Jansen has 20-plus saves in 13 of the past 14 seasons — the only year he didn’t was 2020, when MLB only played 60 games each. With Vest and 2025 trade pick-up Kyle Finnegan both still on the roster, there will be a competition for saves.
Jansen said that’s OK with him.
“You can’t hang on titles. You have to do anything to help your team win,” Jansen told the “Foul Territory” podcast in an episode that dropped Saturday. “That’s my mindset, and that’s my goal.”
Detroit ranked 17th in bullpen ERA in 2025 (4.05), and its relievers took the L in three of its four playoff defeats — including Kahnle’s loss in the Tigers’ season-ending 15-inning loss to the Seattle Mariners in Game 5 of the ALDS.
But Jansen, who has pitched in three World Series, including 2020, thinks the Tigers have what it takes to get back there.
“I wanna get back to that feeling again,” Jansen said. “I think [the Tigers] have a really good team and a really good possibility to get there, and I want to be a part. I want to be a part to help them win.
“That’s all I’m thinking about. If they want me to pitch in the ninth [inning], great. If it’s any other situation they want me to pitch, that’s great too. I’m just going to be open minded on that.”
Kenley Jansen Has The Chance To Pick Up His 500th Career Save This Season
Jansen is the active leader in career saves, sitting ahead of fifth-place Craig Kimbrel (440) and miles ahead of Aroldis Chapman (367). With three saves this season, Jansen will move into the top-three, since he trails Lee Smith (478) for third all time.
Yet, Jansen said he’s not concerning himself with picking up his 500th MLB save.
“To get to 500 [saves] is unbelievable,” Jansen said. “But I didn’t plan on getting to 500 when I was in my Dodgers days. It was just winning, winning the division and being successful is what got me to so many saves.”
If Jansen is the Tigers’ primary closer, he should surpass the 500 mark. Outside of 2020, Jansen has not had fewer than 25 saves since his second big-league season, and the Tigers have had one 20-plus-save reliever in each of the past four years.
Yet, Jansen has something else ahead of 500 saves in his list of priorities.
“It would be awesome to have [500 saves],” Jansen said. “I think more awesome to have is another ring.”
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