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Danny Jansen, the catcher, is ready to take advantage of his adaptability now that he has chosen to become a free agent. After being traded to the Boston Red Sox in July, which happened as they were striving for the postseason without success, Jansen is now ready for a new beginning. Being a reliable player on both offense and defense, he possesses a bat that is often overlooked and exceptional blocking abilities while catching. Despite facing repeated obstacles in the form of injuries, Jansen is actively pursuing a position of leadership where he can utilize his expertise and abilities to propel achievements.

Danny Jansen is exploring his options in free agency.
Jansen was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the draft of 2013. In the year 2022, he had a remarkable season, hitting .260/.339/.516 with 15 homers and 44 RBIs in 215 times at bat, showcasing his talent. Between 2021 and 2023, Jansen’s OPS stood at .772, .855, and .786, in that order. En este lapso, mostró un poder impresionante al conectar 43 cuadrangulares en 667 turnos al bate, lo que equivale a un ritmo de 32 jonrones por cada 500 turnos al bate. Being one half of the Blue Jays’ catching duo, Jansen teamed up effectively with Alejandro Kirk, combining power at the plate with Kirk’s defensive prowess to create a strong partnership. Nevertheless, Jansen’s time on the field was restricted due to injuries and Kirk’s exceptional arm power.

In 2021, Jansen’s problems with injuries started when he was forced to take a two-month break due to a persistent hamstring strain. Throughout 2022, problems continued to arise as he was sidelined for the initial month of the season due to an oblique strain. His playing time was further restricted due to a broken left fifth metacarpal (little finger) on June 7. In 2023, Jansen was still being haunted by the injury curse. From May 26 to June 13, he found himself on the injured list due to a left groin strain. Posteriormente en esa temporada, una fractura en el dedo medio de su mano derecha, sufrida el 2 de septiembre, lo mantuvo fuera por el resto de la temporada regular.

Jansen continued to face injury troubles in 2024 when a fracture in his right wrist on March 28 prevented him from playing with the Blue Jays at the beginning of the season.

Possible Places to Land
The Cubs of Chicago
The Cubs acquired experienced catcher Matt Thaiss in exchange for monetary considerations following Thaiss being released by the Los Angeles Angels. Thaiss provides additional assistance to Miguel Amaya, who shone as the top catcher for the Cubs last year.

The inclusion of Jansen would bring extra strength to a team that finished 21st in baseball last year, hitting 170 home runs. That number had decreased from 196 in the previous season. The Cubs’ lineup boasts the exciting prospect of having both Isaac Paredes and Cody Bellinger, who each have the potential to hit 30 home runs. The last time that duo was seen together on the team was back in 2019, when Kyle Schwarber (38) and Kris Bryant (31) were both part of the squad.

It is probable that Jansen will take on a leadership position for Amaya, offering both power and reliability towards the end of the lineup.

Nationals de Washington
The Nationals are aiming to enhance their catching skills, as stated by general manager Mike Rizzo. Keibert Ruiz, a 26-year-old player with five years of experience in professional baseball, is not performing well in either hitting or fielding.

Ruiz’s performance at bat has been inconsistent ever since he joined the team from the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2021. Following a fiery performance in 23 games hitting .284/.348/.395 that year, his output declined in 2022 with an OPS of .673. In 2023, he made a strong comeback with a .717 OPS, hitting 18 home runs and driving in 67 runs. However, his performance took a significant downturn once more in the following season.

Jansen’s offensive reliability is valuable, but the Nationals are particularly interested in his defensive skills as they work on rebuilding the team.

Value in the market and future estimations
Jansen holds the 15th position in the list of catchers, with a present market worth of $4.4 million. The assessment falls just under the $5.2 million he earned in salary last season.

In terms of comparison, the highly rated catcher Kyle Higashioka, aged 34, showcases a 2.9 WAR and holds a market price of $1.6 million. In the meantime, Victor Caratini from the Houston Astros is expected to receive a salary of $6 million in the year 2025. Caratini showcased a sturdy performance last season, hitting .269 with an on-base percentage of .336 and a slugging percentage of .408. He also smacked eight home runs and drove in 30 runs in 87 games.

Jansen shows promise to outshine Caratini in terms of performance. In good health, he provides outstanding defensive skills when blocking and a dependable bat for the late innings, making him a desirable choice for teams in search of a versatile catcher.