3 Atlanta Braves free agents who left this winter that the fans will miss
By Kevin Henry
Kenley Jansen will be missed by Atlanta Braves fans
In his first season with the Braves after spending 12 years with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Jansen proved he could still be a very effective option late in games.
The 35-year-old right-hander led the National League with 41 saves and 54 games finished, and became an immediate fan favorite in Atlanta during spring training when he talked about growing up as a Braves fan and remembering how Atlanta legends Fred McGriff and Andruw Jones made such an impression on him and saying, “It’s going to be fun here in the Braves uniform.”
As the Braves were putting the finishing touches on their comeback to earn the NL East crown, Jansen was having some of his finest moments in Atlanta, earning 11 saves in 16 games in September and October, striking out 20 in 15.1 innings while walking only four. That includes earning saves in all three victories over the Mets in that pivotal series in Atlanta as the calendar turned to October, hurling three shutout innings and allowing just one hit during that span.
Jansen signed a two-year, $32 million deal with the Boston Red Sox in mid-December, closing the door on his time in Atlanta. However, his contributions during his lone season with the Braves certainly made an impact.