Dodgers Legend Announces Plan for Retirement on Friday

Now entering his 17th MLB season, Jansen recently signed a one-year, $9 million contract with the Detroit Tigers for 2026, a deal that also includes a $12 million club option for 2027. Naturally, questions have begun to surface about when the 38-year-old veteran might retire.

Speaking with reporters on Friday, Jansen made it clear he is not ready to walk away just yet. He said he plans to pitch "a few more years" and emphasized, "It’s not about the money. It’s about the love that I have for the game" (h/t Evan Petzold of Detroit Free Press).

Jansen has built quite the career across 16 years in the league. He currently ranks fourth all-time in saves in MLB history with 476, and he is just two shy of passing Lee Smith for third place. That milestone would further solidify his path to the Hall of Fame.

He also remains the Dodgers’ all-time leader in saves, recording 350 during his tenure in Los Angeles. That total puts him far ahead of the next closest pitcher, Eric Gagne, who finished with 161.

Across 701 appearances for the Dodgers, Jansen posted a 2.37 ERA and struck out 1,022 batters, numbers that underscore his dominance as one of the most reliable closers of his era.

Jansen’s journey is even more remarkable because he began his professional career as a catcher. He transitioned to pitching in the minor leagues and quickly discovered his natural ability to dominate hitters with a devastating cutter.

That conversion from behind the plate to the mound became one of the most impressive transformations in modern baseball, setting the stage for a career that has made him both a Dodgers legend and a likely future Hall of Famer.