Milestone watch: Kenley Jansen is two saves from 500 after the Tigers decline his option

Kenley Jansen needs two more saves to become the third pitcher in major league history with 500. He'll have to get them somewhere other than Detroit.

The Tigers declined a $12 million option on the 39-year-old right-hander Monday, the Associated Press reported. Jansen gets a $2 million buyout as part of the $11 million, one-year contract he signed with Detroit, and he is now a free agent. The Tigers picked up a $10 million option on right-hander Drew Anderson the same day.

Jansen has 498 career saves, third on the all-time list. Here is where the top of that list stands, according to Baseball-Reference:

1. Mariano Rivera, 652
2. Trevor Hoffman, 601
3. Kenley Jansen, 498
4. Lee Smith, 478
5. Craig Kimbrel, 441

Rivera and Hoffman, both Hall of Famers, are the only pitchers to reach 500. Lee Smith, also in Cooperstown, finished 22 short of it. Kimbrel, fifth, is 57 saves behind Jansen.

The question for the next few months is who gives Jansen the ninth inning. Detroit's decision came on a busy Monday around the league. Eight players received $23.15 million qualifying offers, and players could start negotiating with every team at 5 p.m. ET. The AP reported that Major League Baseball is expected to impose a lockout when the collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1, which could push a lot of signings into the next four weeks.

What's next: Jansen can sign with any team now. Whoever gives him the ninth inning next season gets a front-row seat for save No. 500.