Angels Could Bring Back All-Star Reliever in Big Free Agent Move, Says Insider

Sep 24, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels left fielder Taylor Ward (3) congratulates relief pitcher Kenley Jansen (74) after his 28th save of the season in the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Angels made their first big move of the offseason Tuesday, trading Taylor Ward to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Grayson Rodriguez to reinforce their starting pitching — a huge need for the Halos this offseason.

With just one spot open in their rotation, the Angels can shift their focus to other areas of the roster which need help. One such area is their depth in the bullpen.

The Angels had the third-worst bullpen in baseball in 2025, and could turn to Kenley Jansen once again this offseason.

"Jansen wants to continue pitching, and unless he’s set on joining a proven contender, a return to Anaheim could be in the cards," Feinsand said.

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Jansen had his best season since leaving the Dodgers in 2025, posting a 2.59 ERA through 62 appearances for the Angels. He converted 29 of his 30 save attempts last season, and went 5-for-5 on saves while not allowing a run through 11 appearances in July, when he won his first American League Reliever of the Month award.

This deal doesn't just make sense on paper, either. Jansen vocalized his desire to get the Angels back into the postseason throughout the regular season, and even said he'd like to stay with the Halos in October.

More news: Angels Trade Taylor Ward to Orioles in Blockbuster Move, What Does it Mean for Halos?

“They know where I’m living,” Jansen said. “I care about these guys in this clubhouse. I want to be a part to help them bring this organization back to the postseason. That’s for sure. But at the same time, when it becomes an open market, everything can go. You never know where you’re going to go, where you going to end up. So that’s the one thing I learned about the last four years on the free agent market. So it’s basically not in my hands. It’s in their hands.”

More news: Angels Could Trade Taylor Ward, Jo Adell This Offseason, Says Insider

Spotrac values Jansen at a one-year, $13.7 million contract, which is extremely similar to the $10 million deal the Halos gave him in January. The future Hall of Famer's presence would be a huge help to the Angels in the clubhouse, and would meet their need for a closer this offseason.

For more Angels news, head over to Angels on SI.