Call to the pen
Fansided

Detroit Tigers: What’s on their 2022 post-lockout to-do list

ByEric Treuden|
DETROIT, MI - AUGUST 14: A detailed view of a New Era Detroit Tigers baseball hat sitting on the dugout during the game against the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park on August 14, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Indians 6-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - AUGUST 14: A detailed view of a New Era Detroit Tigers baseball hat sitting on the dugout during the game against the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park on August 14, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Indians 6-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 19: Kenley Jansen #74 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after a strikeout to end the game during the 9th inning of Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on October 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Braves 6-5 to win the game. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 19: Kenley Jansen #74 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after a strikeout to end the game during the 9th inning of Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on October 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Braves 6-5 to win the game. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

While there is definitely no shortage of relief-pitching options available on the free agent market, there seems to be a relatively small list of pitchers with proven experience closing games. The Tigers have put the pedal-to-the-metal to begin the offseason and there’s no reason they should think about lifting now.

The Detroit Tigers should sign Kenley Jansen to be their closer

Kenley Jansen went from a minor-league catcher to relief pitcher on the Dodgers’ big league roster in roughly a year. Since then, he has blossomed into one of the game’s very best closers. His extensive track record consists of three All Star appearances, two NL Reliever of the Year awards, a World Series ring, 350 saves, and a 2.37 career ERA with 1,022 strikeouts. He is just the 12th reliever in MLB history to record 1,000 strikeouts in his career. The long story short with Jansen is that he’s the best of the best.

The longtime Los Angeles Dodger, Kenley Jansen is now 34 years old and entering his second career trip through free agency. Coming off of a five-year, $80 million contract that he landed with the Dodgers back in 2017, Jansen features one of the best cutters in the game. Throwing the pitch just under 60% of the time in 2021 and just over 60% in 2020, Jansen relies heavily on the mid-90s cutter that is absolutely deadly and has been giving hitter fits since he burst onto the scene in 2010.

Since becoming a full-time reliever, Jansen has never appeared in less than 51 games in a season dating all the way back to 2011. His career strikeouts per nine inning percentage is at 13.0, which is good for sixth in active relief pitchers that have over 100 appearances to their name (courtesy of that statistic is thanks to Stathead, a baseball nerd heaven for someone like myself).

In MLB Trade Rumors’ annual top 50 free agent predictions, they had Jansen ranked as the #29 free agent going into the offseason and predicted that he would land a two-year, $26 million contract in free agency. My prediction? The Detroit Tigers continue to spend spend spend and sign Kenley Jansen to a three-year, $39 million contract, essentially adding another year at $13 million to MLBTR’s prediction.

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