The Boston Red Sox bullpen was horrendous in 2022.
They finished 78-84, last in the AL East, and the relief corps were a big reason why.
They came into the offseason with several missions, and one of them was to improve the bullpen.
While we can’t say they have had an A, or even a B offseason, they did strengthen their much-maligned bullpen to the point it should no longer be a liability.
They brought in Joely Rodriguez, Chris Martin, and the cherry on top of the cake: closer Kenley Jansen.
It took a sizable two-year commitment, but the Red Sox now have a proven closer to help them protect leads in the American League next year.
They made sure to remind their fans about some of Jansen’s career achievements.
Coming soon to Fenway Park. pic.twitter.com/Rxnvj4fcpw
— Red Sox (@RedSox) December 14, 2022
One Of MLB’s Most Consistently Dominant Relievers In History
The formidable Jansen has been dominant since his big league debut in 2010.
His highest ERA in a season, the absolute worst of his career, has been 3.71 in 2019, a year in which balls were “juiced”.
That’s his floor.
He is now 35, but we can’t forget what he has done in MLB: a 2.46 career ERA, the eighth-most saves in MLB history, two awards for best reliever of the season, multiple All-Star berths, a World Series title, and lots of strikeouts and bad contact.
He was, and still is, a difference-maker.
The Red Sox know he isn’t the same pitcher who posted a sub-3.00 ERA every year from 2010 to 2017, but they feel he can still consistently get high-leverage outs.
His past performance and reputation precedes him: he is one of the most reliable closers in the game, something the Red Sox badly needed.