10 months agoBoston Red Sox relief pitcher Kenley Jansen enters the 2024 season under a cloud of uncertainty as the veteran reliever has been the subject of trade rumors all offseason. A potential trade from Boston shouldn't affect Jansen's fantasy value however, as the 36-year-old is still a prime candidate to rack up saves no matter where he pitches. Except for the shortened 2020 season, Jansen posted at least 25 saves every year since 2012 when he first seized the closer role for the Dodgers. Over that decade of dominance, Jansen was regularly a top closer in fantasy. He consistently posted elite strikeout totals thanks to an eye-popping 35.9% career k-rate and had eight seasons with at least 30 saves, and four seasons with at least 40 saves. Father Time, however, remains undefeated and Jansen clearly declined last year in Boston as his 27.7% k-rate was the lowest of his career and he failed to reach 30 saves for the first time since 2015. Still, a lesser version of Jansen is still a start-worthy reliever in fantasy as his 29 saves, 3.63 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 52 strikeouts across 44 innings still placed the right-hander among the better closers in baseball. Whether it's Boston or elsewhere, Jansen should open the season as his team's closer thanks to a lengthy track record of success. Draft him with confidence as a top-20 RP in fantasy.--Mike Schwarzenbach - RotoBaller