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The Los Angeles Angels have been pretty successful early on in the year, but they will need to sustain that success through the trade deadline or else the front office could tear the team apart in an attempt to rebuild.
This would include trading rental closer Kenley Jansen, who signed with Los Angeles in the offseason on a $10 million deal.
ESPN’s David Schoenfield recently suggested that Jansen be traded, and he linked the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, and Texas Rangers to him in a deal this season.
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“Assuming the wheels eventually come off — the way they have for the past nine consecutive losing seasons — Jansen and Anderson are the logical trade candidates since both will be free agents,” Schoenfield wrote. “At 37, Jansen is a long way from his dominant days with the Dodgers, but he still gets the job done, relying almost exclusively on his cutter.
“Is he the guy you want closing out Game 7 of a playoff series? Maybe not, but there are teams that still have some uncertainty in the ninth inning, including the Red Sox, Rangers, and Cubs.”
The Cubs and Rangers could both make a lot of sense. Chicago has been dominant all season and could use some help in the bullpen. The Rangers are looking to build their way back to the postseason after a disappointing year last season. Texas lost its closer in the offseason.
The Red Sox cut ties with Jansen in the offseason to explore other bullpen options, so it would be a bit shocking to see them pursue the same arm they let walk away a few months ago.
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