### Red Sox Coach Defends Decision to Let Kenley Jansen Leave Early

As the Boston Red Sox concluded their 2024 season, the absence of their veteran closer, Kenley Jansen, was keenly felt in the clubhouse during the final series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Jansen opted to depart early for the offseason, following a conversation with Red Sox manager Alex Cora.

Ahead of the series, Cora had a discussion with Jansen, presenting him with the option to head home early. Considering Boston's position in the standings, Cora empathized with Jansen’s situation and sanctioned the early departure. According to Cora, Jansen had other personal matters to attend to, which contributed to the decision.

"I told Kenley to go home," Cora stated, addressing reporters including Christopher Smith from MassLive. He further elaborated, "If they're upset, they should come to my office and ask me... We're out of it. So if you want to go home, you go home. And he went home."

Despite the understanding from the managerial side, a follow-up report by MassLive highlighted that some Red Sox players expressed their disappointment over Jansen leaving the team before the season officially ended, although they were not entirely surprised by his decision.

As Jansen heads into the MLB free agency this winter, his future with the Red Sox remains uncertain. The 37-year-old has spent the last two years in Boston, contributing his veteran experience to the team. Whether he will be seen on the mound again in a Red Sox uniform is a question left hanging as the team looks ahead to the offseason.