Kenley Jansen explains why he signed with the Braves instead of the Dodgers

For the primary time in 17 years, after spending half of his life within the Dodgers group, Kenley Jansen reported to work Sunday for an additional Main League Baseball membership.

He walked into the expansive clubhouse at CoolToday Park, spring coaching residence of the Atlanta Braves a dozen miles from Florida’s Gulf Coast, simply after 9 a.m. He discovered his locker sandwiched between a minor leaguer’s stall and an unoccupied area — prime actual property reserved for an achieved veteran. A makeshift nameplate was slapped overhead. Jansen was scribbled in black marker. His signature quantity, 74, was in crimson.

The 34-year-old nearer placed on a Braves T-shirt and a blue true spring coaching hat and spent the subsequent two hours working up a sweat. It was each a jarring sight and a dream fulfilled.

Jansen spent his first 12 main league seasons with the Dodgers, however he grew up rooting for the Braves in Curaçao. His favourite participant was Fred McGriff. Andruw Jones, MLB’s first Curaçaoan star, grew to become an idol. When his brother, Ardley, signed with the group in 1999, he would go to Braves spring coaching yearly.

“That’s the place this love began, man,” Jansen stated.

And but Jansen would have finally most well-liked a return to the Dodgers. The 2 events have been engaged in the course of the offseason, earlier than the lockout and after. Minutes after the lockout was lifted, Jansen recalled, Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts despatched him a textual content message with a easy query: “Are you coming again?”

Jansen, the Dodgers’ all-time chief in saves with 350, sought a three-year contract all winter, in response to folks with data of the scenario. He didn’t discover any takers.

The Dodgers have been one of some golf equipment prepared to commit to 2 years. However the scenario was difficult after they agreed to a six-year, $162-million take care of former Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman final Wednesday. The event produced a brand new wrinkle: To maintain their payroll beneath $290 million and keep away from the ensuing 80% tax fee, the Dodgers needed Jansen to attend till they shed payroll earlier than signing.

“I began to really feel that the Dodgers needed to make stuff occur,” Jansen stated. “And, on the similar time, you bought to take care of the fact of what’s finest for you and your loved ones.”

In the meantime, the Braves, in response to an individual with data of the scenario, reached out to Jansen’s illustration two days later with a proposal for one 12 months and $16 million. The crew gave him just a few hours to resolve. They have been ready to maneuver on if he didn’t settle for by the deadline.

Jansen was intrigued by the thought of taking part in for a World Sequence contender and the crew he liked rising up. He weighed the provide versus the chance of ready for the Dodgers, realizing the possibilities of touchdown a three-year contract this late have been slim to none. He opted for the Braves’ assure.

“They made the strikes over there,” Jansen stated of the Dodgers. “They tried to deliver me again, however sadly I needed to decide and I selected to be with the Braves.”

Jansen on Saturday spoke on the cellphone with Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations. He described the dialog as “emotional.” He insisted there aren’t any exhausting emotions.

“I used to be a younger child from Curaçao once I signed there,” Jansen stated. “And so they taught me to be a person and be a father and be an amazing husband to my spouse and that’s what stands out from that group. And, additionally, I can say I’m a champion and it’s superior.”

Jansen’s transfer added one other chapter to an unexpected rivalry between Nationwide League powers on reverse coasts.

The Dodgers and Braves have met within the postseason three of the final 4 years. The Dodgers beat Atlanta within the 2019 NLDS and once more within the 2020 NLCS, getting back from a 3-1 deficit on their method to successful the World Sequence. Final season, the Braves toppled the Dodgers as heavy underdogs in an NLCS rematch and beat the Houston Astros within the World Sequence.

Final week, a plot twist added some drama. On Wednesday, Freeman, a Braves icon, signed with the Dodgers after negotiations with the Braves ended they usually acquired Matt Olson to switch him. Like Jansen, Freeman spent 12 seasons with the crew to start his main league profession. In contrast to Jansen, his departure was messy.

“There’s nothing however nice issues I can say concerning the Dodgers,” Jansen stated. “First-class group.”

The Braves’ bullpen helped carry the membership to the championship in October, however Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos decided it was too left-handed-heavy at the beginning of the offseason. He prioritized including right-handed relievers.

Anthopoulos stated he first reached out to Will Smith, the crew’s nearer, to gauge whether or not the veteran can be open to relinquishing the ninth-inning position. Smith gave the inexperienced gentle. Subsequent was determining which relievers have been attainable. Jansen and Mark Melancon have been atop the free-agent record. Closers Raisel Iglesias and Craig Kimbrel, the one energetic participant with extra saves than Jansen, have been out there through commerce.

Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts watches Kenley Jansen heat up earlier than Sport 3 of NLCS towards the Atlanta Braves in October.

(Jae Hong / Related Press)

The Braves have been discussing a commerce with the Chicago White Sox for Kimbrel, who can even make $16 million this season earlier than hitting free company subsequent offseason, earlier than touchdown Jansen. Re-signing outfielder Jorge Soler was an alternative choice if Jansen didn’t say sure.

Anthopoulos is accustomed to Jansen. He spent two seasons in Friedman’s entrance workplace earlier than shifting to Atlanta. These two years — 2016 and 2017 — have been the very best of Jansen’s profession. He was probably the most dominant reliever within the majors, stifling hitters together with his signature cutter.

However Anthopoulos stated he was most impressed by Jansen’s willingness to imagine a much bigger workload within the 2016 playoffs weeks earlier than changing into a free agent for the primary time. He accomplished the trouble with three good innings in Sport 6 of the NLCS towards the Chicago Cubs. That winter, he signed a five-year, $80-million contract to remain in Los Angeles.

“He’s only a whole crew man,” Anthopoulos stated. “He didn’t have $80 million within the financial institution, and he didn’t even bat an eye fixed. It wasn’t like he needed to be satisfied. He didn’t even flinch. What’s that let you know about him?”

Jansen doesn’t reside on that lights-out stage anymore. His velocity has diminished. His stroll fee has climbed and his strikeout fee has dipped. Final season, nonetheless, he rebounded to put up a 2.22 ERA in 69 outings by mixing in additional sinkers and sliders.

“I feel we’re getting a extremely good reliever,” Anthopoulos stated. “I don’t need to put expectations on him. Look, I feel the contract displays we imagine in him, you recognize?”

When Jansen accepted that contract, he known as Jones to thank him for paving the best way for ballplayers from their small island within the Atlantic. He reached out to former teammates and coaches. Roberts advised him he’d at all times be a part of his household. Jansen known as his brother, Ardley, the previous Braves minor leaguer.

“Hey, that is for you,” he advised him.

It’s a dream come true for a child from Curaçao. However the door isn’t shut on the Dodgers. The contract is, in any case, for only one 12 months and Jansen’s household will stay in Los Angeles year-round.

For now, not less than, he’ll stroll out to “Welcome to Atlanta” at Truist Park after a decade of “California Love” and “2 of Amerikaz Most Needed.” The ninth inning at Dodger Stadium received’t be the identical.