Another honest sit-down with Kenley Jansen
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Five months ago, Kenley Jansen sat in the Fenway Park home dugout and offered his honest assessment on the frustrations that came with the 2023 season. But within the conversation was an fiery sense of optimism that things were going to be changing.
There was declarations about how driven Jansen was going to be in his offseason workouts starting on Day 1, along with hope that the Red Sox would be showing the kind of player-acquisition aggressiveness that wasn't prevalent at the trade deadline.
It hasn't worked out like Jansen envisioned.
Sitting down for the Baseball Isn't Boring podcast at JetBlue Park Sunday afternoon, Jansen explained how adjusting to his current existence has been a challenge. Trade rumors and "a different vision" by the organization has left the 36-year-old in unfamiliar territory.
"I definitely feel frustrated," Jansen said on the podcast. "I came here for two years where Year 1 we were going to compete but by Year 2 they were really going to go after it. I get it, there have been a lot of changes in this organization. They have a different vision now. I get it. It’s part of business. But at the same time I have one more year left here and I’m going to give the fans the best that I have. I always will be dedicated to my craft and what I’m doing. I want to be great. I want to put up a show. So I’m going to give my best all the time when I step on that mound. But it’s definitely frustrating watching how things go, but it’s not in our control. What is in our control is to go out here and be the best leader I can be. Be the best voice I can be in the clubhouse. Help the young guys. Help myself. And learn how to win ballgames."
Jansen signed a two-year, $36 million contract with the Red Sox prior to the 2023 season, fully expecting the organization to show the offseason aggressiveness it had displayed in the past. It's the reason why the closer attempted to include a no-trade clause in his deal.
And while there was a hint of the expected approach last offseason, with the signings of Masa Yoshida, Chris Martin, Justin Turner and Jansen, this time around the tone has been different.
To date, Lucas Giolito has been the Red Sox' lone big-money free agent acquisition, inking a two-year, $38.5 million deal. And another part of the offseason has included dealing veterans Chris Sale, Alex Verdugo and John Schreiber, with Jansen's name still being bandied about in trade rumors.
"I thought it was 50-50," said Jansen when asked what he thought the odds were he would be getting on a plane to Fort Myers this month. "At one point point I thought it was 60-40, 40 percent I would get on the plane and 60 percent I wouldn’t. I think that was two weeks before. I had a lot of uncertainties going on. My wife definitely not loving it. For sure it was tough. By, hey man, I’m here."
So, is Jansen tempted to ask the powers-that-be exactly how and why the approach has changed since that initial introduction to the Red Sox? As he noted, after all, "I did (invest). I had other options and I chose here."
For now, Jansen is content on simply focusing on coming back from a lat ailment that delayed his start while being a positive example for more than a few young pitchers in this spring training clubhouse.
"Sometimes you can’t question in life. You’re going to get lost," the 2023 American League All-Star said.
"I would rather not (ask about the reason for the change in organizational direction), to be honest with you. Now I’m in camp and just try and focus to have a great season. Whatever happens, happens at this point.
"To be honest with you, I will wear this uniform proudly and I will carry this uniform high. But understanding too they have a different vision, one that is kind of for a rebuild to have a better team to compete to win titles. We’ll see. This is my first time experiencing this. It is really weird for me. All I did was win. I was in the playoffs for 10 years in a row. It’s different, I can say, now, going through this. I’m just focused on myself and getting myself ready and trying to block distractions. I have to block distractions. I have to block it out and be ready for the season."