“I think at this point I’m kind of immune to them because it happened so much this offseason.”
Kenley Jasen has been listed in more trade rumors this month
The Red Sox could be primed for a busy trade deadline — just not one that will excite their fanbase.
Sitting at 27-27 a third of the way through the 2024 season, Boston could be looking to sell off assets before the July 30 deadline — with veterans like Kenley Jansen standing as appealing trade chips.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale added more fuel to the speculation surrounding Jansen on Sunday.
“The Boston Red Sox plan to trade All-Star veteran closer Kenley Jansen by the trade deadline,” Nightengale wrote in his latest column. “He’s earning $16 million this year and the Red Sox have no interest in bringing him back.”
Trade rumors have hovered over the 36-year-old closer since spring training, back when Boston was still looking to potentially shed payroll in order to swing other deals before the start of the regular season.
When asked Sunday about his uncertain future in Boston, Jansen acknowledged that his mindset has changed since he first heard his name mentioned in trade whispers in February.
“It was way more frustrating in spring training. Now, It’s a business,” Jansen said, per WEEI’s Rob Bradford. “The thing is, I have to worry about my guys who are here and how we can stay close and fight and win ballgames.
“Because at the end of the day I still believe these guys can be great. I will carry that on my shoulder and prove everybody wrong, that we can win ballgames and not be a laughingstock. We have a great team. We have a great group of guys. We just have to keep focusing on that particular part.”
While a pending free agent like Jansen may not be a part of Boston’s long-term future, he could be a coveted trade target for a contender looking to shore up its bullpen.
Jansen was Boston’s lone All-Star representative in 2023 after posting 29 saves and a 3.63 ERA over 44.2 innings of work. He has appeared in 18 games so far in 2024, recording nine saves and sporting a 3.06 ERA.
Despite the distractions that come with trade rumors, Jansen stated that he’s trying to stay focused on the task at hand — closing out games and serving as a mentor for a young Red Sox pitching corps.
“We have to stay professional,” Jansen said. “I’ve got [a] great group of young guys around here and I want to keep continuing do whatever can help. Whatever I can help with my wisdom I’m going to be here and do that and be a leader for them. I think there’s a great thing going on here. Guys are young. This team is going to be good very soon here. It’s a part of the business.
So if that’s what they are thinking I can’t think about that. I just have to go out and help Boston win ballgames today. Whatever happens. So that’s where I’m standing at this moment. Go day by day. Be here. Be present. Love my teammates. Help them out with whatever I can help them out with and go out and win ballgames. … “I think at this point I’m kind of immune to them because it happened so much this offseason. I can’t think about that.”
