New Tigers reliever is only three saves from having third-most saves in MLB history

Getty Images New Tigers reliever is only three saves from having third-most saves in MLB history originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Detroit Tigers made a lot of news leading up to 2026, with the $32 million arbitration result for Tarik Skubal, the signing of Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander, and Kevin McGonigle making the Opening Day roster.

But, while those are all big moves, another free agent signing that the Tigers made shouldn't go underrated. This addition was the signing of closer Kenley Jansen. As MLB.

com's Sarah Langs notes, Jansen, entering his 17th season, is only three saves away from becoming the pitcher with the third-most saves in MLB history behind only Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman. Tigers' Kenley Jansen just three saves from third-place in MLB history "Kenley Jansen, third-most saves: Jansen enters the year fourth all-time with 476 saves, looking up at Lee Smith with 478," Langs writes. What this means is that Jansen, the longtime pitcher, needs just three more saves to reach 479 for his career, which would put him third all-time in MLB history for saves in a career.

Rivera is first all-time with 652 saves, and Hoffman is second all-time with 601 saves. Smith is third with 478, and he played in 18 seasons compared to Jansen's 16 before 2026. Reaching either Rivera or Hoffman seems impossible for Jansen, but he's still in a good spot to get to third-place all-time and be surrounded by Hall of Famers.