The Boston Red Sox have reportedly been looking to dump salary and have even told a free agent pitcher that that’s their goal to sign him and make some other moves, so with the trade of Chris Sale on Saturday for Vaughn Grissom to the Atlanta Braves there will be more from the 2023 roster that will be traded. The one name that has stuck out since that comment is Kenley Jansen, who will make $16 million in 2024. The Red Sox have some capable relievers on their roster who could replace Jansen in the closer role, so his being traded makes even more sense, what team could be an option, and what could the trade look like?
What about the Texas Rangers? The defending champs lost both back-end arms in their bullpen, with Will Smith signing with the Kansas City Royals and Aroldis Chapman being a free agent. The Rangers had been linked to Josh Hader, but he is looking for a contract bigger than Edwin Diaz signed with the New York Mets, which was five years for $102 million; the cheaper option would be trading for Jansen. So, what could a trade option be? What if it was Jansen and Rob Refsnyder? The Rangers could also use a bat that can hit LHP. What could the Red Sox get in return? What about Jack Leiter, who they were interested in drafting in 2021 and has struggled in the Rangers system? That kind of trade would help both sides. Let’s take a look at the numbers for all 3.
By The Numbers
Kenley Jansen
Jansen, last year for Boston, appeared in 51 gamesJansen last year for Boston appeared in 51 games going 3-6 with a 3.63 ERA and he had 29 saves in 33 chances as well as 52 strikeouts in 44.2 innings of work. He has 420 career saves in 476 chances.
Rob Refsnyder
Refsnyder last season slashed .248/.365/.317 with a .682 OPS; he had nine doubles, one triple, one home run, 28 RBI, 31 runs scored, seven stolen bases, and 33 walks. Last season against left-handed pitching, he slashed .308/.428/.400 with a .828 OPS; six of his nine doubles came against left-handed pitching, his lone triple and home run and 21 of his 28 RBI. In his career against left-handed pitching, he has slashed .270/.376/.380 with a .757 OPS.
Jack Leiter
Leiter entered 2023 as the 78th overall prospect for the Rangers. Entering 2024, he is not on the ITD top 100 prospects rankings but ranks as the Rangers fifth overall prospect entering 2024 by ITD. In 2023, Leiter pitched at Double-A and Triple-A, making 20 starts, going 2-6 with a 5.19 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP, and he had 114 strikeouts in 85 innings. For his Rangers career, he has made 43 appearances, with 42 as starts going 5-16 with a 5.37 ERA, a 1.50 WHIP, a 1.4 HR/9, a 5.3 BB/9, and an 11.3 K/9. He’d be someone the Red Sox system and the additions to the organization could fix and get him back on track to the pitcher he was at Vanderbilt and the reason why he went second overall in the 2021 draft.
Wrap Up
Red Sox fans, what do you think? Would you pull the trigger on this trade? It will open up money to sign a free-agent pitcher and give you a pitching prospect that, if he gets fixed, could be a key player in the future.
