Jim Bowden, a former MLB executive and columnist for the Athletic, claims that the Boston Red Sox are in the running for every top free agency pitcher. One close Red Sox fan wants to see the team sign Kirby Yates after future Hall of Fame closer Kenley Jansen left after two seasons.
In 2024, Yates signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract to be the closer for the Texas Rangers. According to MLB Trade Rumors, Yates should be paid $14 million in 2025. The 10-year veteran will probably sign another one-year deal at age 37.
Along with Blake Snell, Yates’s “stuff was just comically better than everyone else available, and every time someone from [the Red Sox] pitching department talks, it’s all about dirtiness in the zone as the starting point,” according to a Saturday post from Red Sox Stats, one of the most reputable social media accounts for Red Sox fans and insiders.
Yates had his greatest season since 2019 after joining the Rangers, save 41 games for the San Diego Padres and earning a spot on the National League All-Star squad. The right-hander had a stellar 0.827 WHIP and a commanding 1.17 ERA while saving 33 games for Texas. He was selected as an All-Star in the American League as well.
The Red Sox missed the postseason in both 2023 and 2024, despite Jansen saving 29 and 27 games for Boston, respectively. After pitching in the postseason each year beginning in 2013, Jansen expressed his dissatisfaction openly. Jansen was with the Los Angeles Dodgers for all but one of those seasons, and was part of the Dodgers’ championship team in the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
In 2022 he signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Braves where he made the playoffs again. He saved the Braves’ only win their 3-1 NL Division Series loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. Jansen has also been named to four All Star teams.
