Kenley Jansen, the veteran closer for the Los Angeles Angels, envisions playing at least four more years after the current season, aiming to surpass his milestone of 500 career saves. As of now, Jansen stands at 467 saves and is actively seeking opportunities with teams in need of reliable closers to achieve his ambitious target. The Angels appear to be a natural destination for him to continue, especially given concerns over the health of other bullpen candidates like Ben Joyce and Robert Stephenson, while Reid Detmers maintains a vital role in high-pressure situations.
At 37 years old, Jansen reports being in good health and expects to be in even better shape next year, relying mainly on just two pitches to continue outsmarting hitters. His strong performance in 2025, including earning the American League Reliever of the Month award in July, shows that he remains effective despite the passage of time. However, final decisions hinge on the offseason market: if another team offers a multi-year deal, Jansen might depart. The Angels likely will need to match or improve their financial offer to keep their veteran closer on board for another season or more.
Angels Assessing Future Rotation As Prospect Caden Dana Advances at Triple-A
Meanwhile, the Angels have been bolstering their Triple-A Salt Lake roster, recently promoting prospects Nelson Rada and Denzer Guzman. Among these rising talents is 21-year-old Caden Dana, who was given a break in workload but has since resumed pitching with noticeable progress. After an 89-pitch start on June 11th, Dana rested until July 23rd, then completed three starts with a steady increase in pitch count, reaching 89 again on August 5th following outings of 52 and 71 pitches.
Though Dana shows promise as a more effective option than nearly half of the current rotation, the Angels remain cautious about promoting him to the major league team just yet. They have hesitations about relying on him to replace struggling starters like Tyler Anderson and Jack Kochanowicz, both of whom have underperformed. Dana had only been used earlier this year as a bullpen innings eater, while infield prospect Christian Moore has been positioned to take over second base full time.
The Angels’ decision makers and fans alike may soon grow impatient with ongoing poor performances from current starters, a sentiment demonstrated when Kochanowicz was removed from his start on a recent Saturday. Dana’s continued development and a couple more convincing starts could push the organization to finally trust him with a larger role in the rotation.
Balancing Experience and Youth as Angels Shape Their Roster
The Angels face a delicate balancing act in determining their bullpen and rotation for the near future. Kenley Jansen’s potential multi-year return offers stability and veteran leadership, which could be critical as younger players like Caden Dana vie for opportunities. While Jansen’s health and effectiveness grant him leverage, his final destination will depend heavily on offers from around the league. The club’s internal talent pool, including rising prospects and existing players, is under close scrutiny, with patience wearing thin for inconsistent starters.
How the Angels manage the careers of seasoned veterans like Jansen alongside accelerating prospects such as Dana will likely shape their roster construction and competitiveness moving forward. Observers and fans should watch the offseason closely to see if the team retains its closer or makes room for emerging talents ready to contribute at the MLB level.