New York Yankees’ relief pitcher Devin Williams managed to strike out Xander Bogaerts from the San Diego Padres, escaping a bases-loaded situation in the 10th inning at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday. This moment of success was an exception for the 30-year-old, who was brought in from the Milwaukee Brewers in a significant trade last December.

Williams’ stint in New York has mostly been a struggle, as he came into Wednesday’s game with a hefty 10.03 ERA. His latest failure occurred on Monday when he entered the eighth inning with a 3-0 advantage, only to lose it swiftly, leading to a 4-3 defeat against the Padres. Manager Aaron Boone has since turned to Luke Weaver, who assumed the closer role during last year’s critical games.

However, Weaver also faltered on Monday, allowing the winning run after replacing Williams. A daring trade proposal could potentially resolve the Yankees’ closer issues while also bringing in a future Hall of Famer to finish his career in the Bronx. Kenley Jansen, currently with the Los Angeles Angels on a one-year, $10 million deal, could be the answer.

At 37, Jansen continues to excel, having saved 56 games in 64 opportunities over two seasons with the Boston Red Sox. His Hall of Fame status is virtually assured, as he ranks fourth on the all-time saves list with 454. Jansen is eager to surpass former Red Sox closer Lee Smith, who recorded 478 saves over his 18-year career with eight different teams.

Smith retired in 1997 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019. Jansen needs just 24 more saves to surpass Smith, a tally unlikely with the Angels, who sit at 14-20. However, with the Yankees, those saves are much more attainable. Since Jansen would be a short-term rental for the Yankees — likely heading back to free agency or retiring after his contract expires this season — acquiring him from Anaheim shouldn’t be costly.

Offering two lower-tier minor league pitching prospects, such as Cade Smith, a right-hander picked in the sixth round of 2023, and Kyle Carr, a lefty selected in the third round the same year, should suffice. Both Smith and Carr, currently at the High-A level in the Yankees’ system, are ranked as the organization’s 14th and 18th prospects, respectively. Acquiring Jansen could solidify the Yankees’ bullpen as they aim for another World Series appearance.