Kenley Jansen can go back to using “California Love” as his walk-out music.
Jansen has agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract with the Angels on Tuesday as spring training commences this week across the sport, as first reported by The Post’s Jon Heyman.
The 37-year-old is returning to Southern California after spending two years in Boston and one in Atlanta following 12 years with the Dodgers to open his career.
![Kenley Jansen is going, going, back, back to Cali, Cali.](https://m.ariseright.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Kenley-Jansen-signs-10-million-contract-with-Angels.jpg)
Jansen was one of the top free agents remaining while players have reported to Florida and Arizona this week and he now lands with a seemingly always-rebuilding Angels team.
The right-hander went 4-2 with a 3.29 ERA last season while recording 27 saves for the Red Sox and enters his 16th season as the sport’s active saves leader with 447, the fourth-most in MLB history.
He has a chance to pass Lee Smith (478 saves) for third place, but that would require the Angels being more competitive than they have been in recent years.
The Angels went 63-99 and finished in last place in the AL West last season, marking their ninth straight season finishing below .500.
They have not won 80 games since 2018.
![Mike Trout's health is a major storyline for the Angels.](https://m.ariseright.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/1739293973_200_Kenley-Jansen-signs-10-million-contract-with-Angels.jpg)
This year doesn’t look all that promising since Los Angeles’ offseason centered on adding veterans, with none being difference-makers.
Jorge Soler, Kyle Hendricks, Yusei Kikuchi, Scott Kingery and Travis d’Arnaud are the newcomers, joining a core that realistically needs Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon to stay healthy and productive to contend.
Fangraphs projects the Angels to finish 75-87.
The one built-in bonus for this acquisition is the Angels could essentially be buying a prospect should things go south since relievers are always in high demand at the trade deadline.
Jansen posted a 2.37 ERA and notched 350 saves during his time with the Dodgers from 2010-21, before tallying a 3.38 ERA in his one season with the Braves and a 3.44 mark with the Red Sox.
While he’s not the flamethrower from his younger days, Jansen still averaged 10.5 and 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings, respectively, across his last two seasons.