Braves: Kenley Jansen can’t wait to beat the Dodgers

New Atlanta Braves closer Kenley Jansen played into the budding rivalry with the Dodgers, saying that he can’t wait to beat his former team.

Signing Jansen as the team’s new closer was one of the signature moves of Alex Anthopoulos’ offseason. Were it any other offseason — and not one where the Braves let Freddie Freeman walk and traded for Matt Olson as his replacement — it would’ve been the signature move.

Atlanta’s night shift bullpen got even better, and Jansen is coming off a resurgent year with the Dodgers. Andrew Friedman gave Jansen a contract offer, but in the end the Braves were willing to pay him more. There are no hard feelings.

“I’m not mad,” Jansen said. “Why would I be mad? Knowing Andrew [Friedman], he does everything he can to help his team with in a championship. [Braves general manager] Alex Anthopoulos is the same way. Andrew tried. I can’t be mad.”

Braves: Kenley Jansen can’t wait to beat the Dodgers

Sure, Jansen isn’t upset with the Dodgers front office. After all, he took the better offer from Atlanta and Anthopoulos. But he’s fully planning on defeating any team standing between him and the last out of the season — that is, clinching a World Series championship.

“Everyone wants to beat the Dodgers,” Jansen said. “Now I’m on the other side, of course I want to beat them, as much as I love them. That organization will be, for the rest of my life, in my heart. But now that you’re on the other side, you want to beat them.”

Jansen is right. It’s time for the next step.