Kenley Jansen wanted to return to Dodgers: That was option A

Kenley Jansen returns to Los Angeles this week, but the longtime Dodgers closer will be wearing a different uniform.

Kenley Jansen signed a one-year, $16M contract with the Atlanta Braves this past offseason, but according to the right-hander, option A was always returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, it sounds as if Jansen and the Dodgers were not on the same page.

Jansen was looking to sign a three-year deal to remain with LA, but the Dodgers preferred to bring the right-hander back on a one or two-year contract. In the end, the two sides could not come to terms on an agreement and Jansen decided instead to sign with the defending World Champions.

Kenley Jansen wanted to return to the Dodgers

Given all the success that Jansen and the Dodgers experienced together, it’s no wonder that the two sides were hopeful to find common ground on a contract this past offseason.

In his 12 years with the Dodgers organization, Jansen had appeared in 701 games while recording a club-record 523 saves. Jansen led the league in saves (41) during the 2017 season and finished fifth in the Cy Young voting in that year.

Jansen went to three consecutive All-Star Games during his time with the Dodgers. While he wasn’t on the mound when the Dodgers recorded the final out of the 2020 World Series, Jansen was a key piece coming out of the bullpen for LA during their title run that season.

But now, Jansen will emerge from the visiting bullpen at Dodger Stadium if the Atlanta Braves hold a narrow margin heading into the ninth inning on Monday night at Chavez Ravine.

While Jansen would have loved to return to LA, it was not to be. The Dodgers, in need of a closer to replace him, turned to Craig Kimbrel this offseason. Los Angeles swung a deal with the Chicago White Sox in order to land the eight-time All-Star.