Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen wins NL reliever of the year award

Reporting from Chicago —  In what could be his final season as a Dodger, Kenley Jansen won Major League Baseball’s Trevor Hoffman Award, handed out annually to the best reliever in the National League.

Baltimore closer Zach Britton won the Mariano Rivera Award, given to the American League’s best reliever.

Travel issues prevented Jansen from making it to Saturday’s ceremony at Wrigley Field before Game 4 of the World Series.

Jansen pitched in this ballpark only a week ago, when he threw three no-hit innings in a vain effort as the Dodgers dropped Game 6 of the National League Championship Series to the Cubs. Jansen saved three games in the playoffs and pitched 2 1/3 innings as the Dodgers squeaked past the Nationals in Game 5 of the first round.

Jansen, 29, saved a career-high 47 games with a 1.83 earned-run average, his lowest since his rookie season in 2010. He struck out 13.6 batters per nine innings and posted a career-low .067 WHIP.

The Dodgers are expected to pursue Jansen in free agency this winter. But the team is also intrigued with Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman. Both Jansen and Chapman are expected to break Jonathan Papelbon’s record set for closer contracts at four years and $50 million.