Via Foul Territory
One would not expect the veteran closer to be as frank as he was when he took to Foul Territory, where Kenley Jansen opened up regarding his aspirations and at the same time, the uncertainties that lie ahead. The 34-year-old reliever, famous for his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers, opens up on a heartfelt desire to end his career with the team he has long called his home.
“To be honest with you, if I have to speak for myself, yes. I wanna see myself retiring in Dodger Blue,” Jansen said. But he was quick to acknowledge the unpredictable nature of professional sports. “But is that a reality? No, you know, I don’t know, because I don’t have control over that, and also, I don’t know what they’re thinking. At the end of the day, it’s a business, right?”
Jansen remains focused on competing for championships, wherever that quest may lead him. “If there’s a team out there that wants to compete for a championship, that’s what I want to do. That’s what I want to chase is a championship, and wherever it wants me on that roster when I’m in free agency, and giving the best of it for me and my family, that’s where I will go.”
Despite his pragmatic approach, Jansen’s connection to the Dodgers is unmistakable. “The Dodgers will have that advantage, yeah,” he admitted, as if thinking in terms of ever making a return. “But is it realistic if it can happen also? Yes, but is it? Who knows? We don’t know. At the end of the day, I have to look out for what’s best for me and my family also.”
Comments like these by Kenley Jansen show the complex emotions with which athletes must grapple as they navigate the twilight of their careers. Even if his heart is set on that Dodger Blue ending, he remains open to any possibility that will fit into his championship goals and personal priorities. Whether Jansen puts back on the Dodgers uniform, his legacy with the team has been already secured.
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