Yankees-Angels blockbuster trade pitch sends future Hall of Famer to NY

The New York Yankees, surprisingly, may be in the market for a closer. Devin Williams has struggled early on and has been stripped of closer duties.

The Los Angeles Angels could be sellers at the trade deadline, and have a future Hall of Famer that the Yankees could be looking at. Kenley Jansen already has seven saves this season. His 5.79 ERA is highly inflated after he has gone scoreless in nine of his 10 outings. Newsweek's Jon Vankin suggested the Yankees could trade for him to stabilize the back end of their bullpen.

"Because Jansen would be a partial-season rental for the Yankees — either re-entering free agency or retiring after this season when his contract expires — the price to get him out of Anaheim to the Bronx should not be high," wrote Vankin. "A pair of lower minor-league pitching prospects — such as 2023 sixth-round pick Cade Smith, a righty, along with left Kyle Carr, a third-rounder that same year — should be plenty to secure Jansen and stabilize the crucial high-leverage end of the Yankees bullpen as they pursue a return trip to the World Series."

Jansen is a four-time All-Star, World Series champion and two-time Trevor Hoffman Reliever of the Year. He would fill the role the Yankees expected Williams to fill. If Williams figures things out, the Yankees could use him as a setup man for Jansen, like he was for Josh Hader at one point.

Assuming Williams starts to pitch like an All-Star again and the Yankees land Jansen, they would have Williams, Luke Weaver and Jansen at the end of their bullpen to close out games. Additionally, Jansen would get a chance to add to his great career numbers in New York.

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"Jansen's Hall of Fame credentials are probably confirmed already," wrote Vankin. "He stands fourth on the all-time saves list with 454. But he is chasing another former Red Sox closer, Lee Smith, who recorded 478 over an 18-year career with eight different teams. Jansen would undoubtedly like to retire in third place. Smith, who hung up his spikes after the 1997 season, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019. With just 24 more saves, Jansen would move past Smith on the career leader board. That total probably would not be within reach with the currently last-place, 14-20 Angels. But with the Yankees, that number would become much more achievable."

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