Jansen Hits Open Market Two Saves Shy of 500 After Tigers Decline Option

Kenley Jansen is a free agent again after the Detroit Tigers declined his $12 million club option for 2027. According to ESPN's Jorge Castillo, the Tigers will instead pay the veteran closer a $2 million buyout, leaving Jansen free to sign with any club. The timing is striking: Jansen sits just two saves away from 500 for his career, a milestone only a handful of relievers in baseball history have ever reached. Last season he went 4-6 with 22 saves, 51 strikeouts and a 3.20 ERA across 50 appearances, showing he can still close games at a high level. For a contending team looking for a proven ninth-inning arm, a closer two saves from a historic landmark — and available without a long-term commitment — is an obvious target in a free-agent market that opened on Monday. Jansen's next stop will be watched closely, not just for where he lands but for whether his 500th save comes in a new uniform. The Tigers' decision is part of the early wave of option calls reshaping rosters across the league as the offseason gets underway.