Major League Baseball

Kenley Jansen, longtime Dodgers closer, joins Braves

Updated Mar. 19, 2022 1:13 a.m. ET

On the same day the Dodgers introduced former Braves star Freddie Freeman to the Los Angeles media, Atlanta struck back with a free-agent heist of its own.

The Braves have signed longtime L.A. closer Kenley Jansen to a one-year deal worth $16 million.

Jansen — a former catcher from Curacao who converted to pitching in the minor leagues — has been a rock at the backend of the Dodgers' bullpen for more than a decade.

In 12 seasons with the club, the three-time All-Star has saved 350 regular-seasons games, striking out 1,022 batters in 705 innings. Jansen sports a career ERA of 2.37 and a WHIP of 0.928. He also has 19 saves across 57 postseason appearances.

The 6-5, 265-pounder finished fifth in NL Cy Young voting in 2017, when he led the league with 41 saves and racked up 109 strikeouts in 68.1 innings.

As far as the Dodgers' bullpen goes, Blake Treinen figures to have the upper hand on taking over closer duties. The 33-year-old right-hander earned seven saves last season and struck out 85 batters in 72.1 innings.

For the Braves, Jansen is expected to take over from Will Smith as the Braves’ primary closer.

General manager Alex Anthopoulos said he discussed the signing with Smith before finalizing the deal.

The left-hander had 37 saves and was especially effective down the stretch and in the postseason for the World Series champions. In the playoffs, Smith had six saves and didn’t allow a run over 11 innings.

"We told him we might have an opportunity to do something like this, but we wanted to make sure he was good with it," Anthopoulos said. "Will is on board. He said, ‘If it makes the team better and gives us a chance to win another ring and have a parade again, I’m all in.’"

Anthopoulos said Smith is still likely to get save opportunities when Jansen needs a day off.

Otherwise, the lefty will work in a setup role along with Tyler Matzek, Luke Jackson and A.J. Minter. The Braves also added Collin McHugh to a bullpen that now looks like one of the team’s biggest strengths.

The Braves have bolstered their roster with a flurry of moves, even while losing Freeman to the Dodgers.

The Dodgers and Braves have squared off in the last two NL Championship Series, each winning once on the way to a World Series title.

The Braves started wheeling and dealing on Monday, trading four top prospects to the Oakland Athletics for star first baseman Matt Olson and signaling an abrupt end to Freeman’s long career in Atlanta.

The very next day, Olson signed an eight-year, $168 million deal — the most lucrative contract in Braves history.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.