MLB Contenders Eye Angels’ Kenley Jansen as Prime Waiver-Wire Pickup
The MLB trade deadline may be in the rearview, but contending teams still have another avenue to bolster their rosters — the waiver wire. For clubs looking to save money, releasing quality players can cut payroll while giving playoff hopefuls a chance to add talent ahead of the August 31 postseason eligibility deadline. While free agents remain an option, the market is thin this late in the season.
One intriguing potential move? The Los Angeles Angels parting ways with veteran closer Kenley Jansen.
The Angels signed Jansen to a one-year, $10 million deal this season, but with free agency looming, the 16-year MLB veteran might be eager to join a contender. And given his performance, there would be no shortage of suitors.
Jansen has been lights-out in 2025, posting a 2.66 ERA over 44 innings with 22 saves. According to Bleacher Report, he’s “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.” The site even suggested he “could be quite the gift that falls into the Texas Rangers’ closer-less lap,” while also floating Luis Rengifo or Yoán Moncada as late-August pickups for teams with infield needs.
For Jansen, a postseason role could be pivotal. The Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Boston Red Sox stand out as logical landing spots. The Dodgers, who have lacked a consistent closer, could be tempted to reunite with the man who saved games for them over 12 seasons and helped secure the 2020 World Series title.
With 469 career saves, a 2.57 ERA in 912.1 innings, and four All-Star selections, Jansen is easily among the most attractive waiver-wire candidates available. For any team with October ambitions, adding him could be the difference between an early exit and a deep playoff run.
