Kenley Jansen clears the air on leaving team before conclusion of the regular season
As the Red Sox season was coming to a close over the weekend against the Rays, one notable member of the roster was absent after he was placed on the injured list.
Kenley Jansen had been sent “home” by the team, according to skipper Alex Cora. Jansen was placed on the injured list before the series with right shoulder inflammation and would not pitch again during the season.
Some of Jansen’s teammates were upset that he was not with the team for the final three games, according to a report from MassLive’s Sean McAdam.
“Multiple players, all of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity, registered their disappointment over Jansen’s early departure, though one added, ‘I can’t say I’m too surprised,'” McAdam wrote.
On Monday, the 37-year-old closer appeared on Rob Bradford's "Baseball Isn't Boring" podcast to discuss a number of topics, including why he departed early.
"Me and (Alex Cora) had a conversation, and I think we both agreed that, of course, I've been dealing with my shoulder the last couple of weeks with inflammation and all that, so that's what it was," Jansen explained, downplaying his departure from the team.
Jansen continued: "It's nothing big. We came to an agreement that I think it's back to put me on the injured list to let that shoulder recover. That's pretty much it. When we got eliminated, they agreed that I could go home. No biggie. All love. That's what it is."
How difficult was it for Jansen to not be with his teammates for the final homestand?
"Definitely tough, man," Jansen explained. "Like I said, it's an organization of winning, and I definitely feel frustrated that I didn't go to the playoffs in two years. I understand that part. It's hard to get to the playoffs, but that city deserves nothing but the best. Hopefully, they can sooner than later be in that position to try to win a World Series again. Like I said, it's a city of success. If you talk about Boston, you talk about L.A. and New York; those three cities, you talk about cities of champions to me. Hopefully, they can gather it and figure it out and put that organization back in that winning that everybody deserves there."
Later in the day, the Red Sox held the team’s end-of-season press conference at Fenway Park. Cora was asked about Jansen and his departure from the team, reiterating his earlier comments.
“I had a conversation with Kenley as soon as we were done,” Cora told reporters. “I told him he was free to go home. It was a manager’s decision.”
Jansen will become a free agent at the conclusion of the World Series this fall.
