After serving as the sacrificial lamb in an early-season loss to the Mariners, Justin Slaten bounced back to all but secure the spot as Boston’s shoo-in closer following Kenley Jansen’s departure from Boston.
The Positives
Slaten’s rookie season was one of the best seasons that we’ve seen from any Red Sox reliever in recent memory. While the closer duties were largely left to the veteran Jansen, his late-season stint on the injured list gave Slaten the chance to slot right into that closer spot at the end of the year, which should transition well into that role next season, depending on Liam Hendricks’ status and continued recovery over the offseason.