3 Veterans the Red Sox Should Keep at the Trade Deadline
By Tyler Maher
2. Kenley Jansen
Relievers are always valuable trade chips at the deadline because every contender could use more bullpen help. In this case, Boston has a pretty attractive one in All-Star closer Kenley Jansen.
Jansen is signed through next year, though, so there’s no need for the Red Sox to trade him just yet. Even if the team falls short of the playoffs this year, Boston is expected to be better next year as young players like Bello, Triston Casas, Jarren Duran and others continue to mature.
What’s more, Jansen has been a godsend for manager Alex Cora. The team hasn’t had a reliable closer since Matt Barnes in the first half of 2021, and Jansen has sealed many close games that otherwise might have gone the other way.
If the Red Sox are struggling next July, that will be the time to move Jansen. But for now, any talk of shipping him out feels premature.