Free-agent right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle and the Detroit Tigers agreed to a one-year, $7.75 million deal on Wednesday, pending a physical, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan. Kahnle, who features one of the better changeups in baseball, should feature in a middle-relief role for a Tigers bullpen that was surprisingly strong in 2024. The 35-year-old will come with a lengthy injury history, but he was a strength out of the New York Yankees' bullpen the last two seasons, posting a combined 2.38 ERA (3.99 FIP) and 1.13 WHIP with three saves, 94 strikeouts and 38 walks in 83 1/3 innings pitched. While he probably won't really be in the mix for saves in a bullpen that also features Jason Foley, Beau Brieske and Tyler Holton, Kahnle could be useful to fantasy managers in leagues that count holds. He only has eight career saves in 10 MLB seasons.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, free agent relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle is drawing interest from eight clubs. Kahnle enjoyed a strong 2024 season with the New York Yankees, posting a 2.11 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP across 42 2/3 innings of work. He struck out batters at a modest 25.7% clip and generated a strong .203 xBA. He also generated an excellent 59.8% ground ball rate and a 32.1% hard-hit rate which were both among the top marks among pitchers last season. Kahnle tallied 16 holds as he was typically deployed in a set-up role for the Yankees. Given the reported interest, many clubs may view the 35-year-old as a potential closer. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor where he signs, as he could be a valuable target in leagues that score holds if he joins a competing club.
Free agent reliever Tommy Kahnle is drawing attention on the open market, with up to eight teams showing interest in adding his services. Kahnle pitched for the Yankees last season, posting a 2.11 ERA (4.01 FIP), 1.15 WHIP, and a 15.1% K-BB% while collecting 16 holds and one save over 42 2/3 IP during the regular season. The 35-year-old even pitched eight-and-two-thirds innings of scoreless ball in the postseason before allowing all three batters he faced in the eighth inning of Game 5 of the World Series to reach base, ultimately going down as the losing pitcher in the series finale. Despite that, the Yankees have been rumored as one of the teams interested in bringing him back. The veteran has a career 3.47 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and a 17.8% K-BB%, but would likely only be relevant for fantasy in leagues that reward holds unless he were to be thrust into a closing role for some reason, although the righty has just eight career saves.
New York Yankees right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle got the nod in a save chance in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Friday night against the Cleveland Guardians and disappoint, slamming the door in an 8-6 victory for his first save of the postseason. In his scoreless inning of work, Kahnle allowed a hit, walked one and struck out a batter to put the Yankees up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, one game away from a trip to the World Series. Normal closer Luke Weaver blew the save in epic fashion in Game 3 and has been used heavily of late, so the Yankees elected to give him a break on Friday and go with Kahnle instead. The 35-year-old only had one save during the regular season but has been a key relief arm for the Yanks in October, tossing seven shutout innings with six walks and six strikeouts in six appearances.
New York Yankees relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle (shoulder) is expected to be recalled from Double-A Somerset on Wednesday, per the Athletic's Chris Kirschner. Left-handed pitcher Clayton Andrews was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after Tuesday's game in a corresponding move. Kahnle has been out with shoulder inflammation since last season but compiled a solid 2.66 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 29.1% strikeout rate with 14 holds in 40 2/3 innings pitched. Given his higher-leverage usage and strong team context, Jahnle will be worth a look in deeper saves-plus-holds leagues.
New York Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle (shoulder) could return to the majors on Wednesday, according to manager Aaron Boone. Kahnle made multiple relief appearances with Double-A Somerset over the weekend and did not allow a run in any outing. The 34-year-old has been sidelined since last season with shoulder inflammation, but he is finally nearing a return. Kahnle has been an effective bullpen piece throughout his career as evidenced by his 2.66 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 48:19 K:BB across 42 games last season. He is a decent option for managers in leagues that track holds as a scoring category.
New York Yankees right-hander Tommy Kahnle (shoulder) could return to the team's bullpen during their series against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium from May 20-23, according to manager Aaron Boone. Kahnle pitched in his second minor-league rehab game for Double-A Somerset on Thursday, striking out the side for a second straight outing. He's made four rehab appearances overall after making two appearances for Single-A Tampa. The 34-year-old reliever is scheduled to pitch again for Somerset on Saturday, at which point he'll be re-evaluated. Right-shoulder inflammation ended Kahnle's 2023 early and delayed his winter throwing program until Dec. 12, so the Yankees have been slow-playing him. When healthy, Kahnle can be a key bullpen piece for the Yanks. In 42 relief appearances in 2023, he posted a 2.66 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, two saves, 19 walks and 48 K's in 40 2/3 frames.
New York Yankees right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle (shoulder) started a minor-league rehab assignment on Wednesday with Single-A Tampa. Kahnle has yet to make his debut in 2024 with the Yankees due to a right-shoulder injury that he's been dealing with late last year. Because of the long layoff, the 34-year-old is likely to have a lengthy rehab stint in the minors before the Yankees consider adding him back to their bullpen mix. The former fifth-round pick in 2010 out of Lynn University is a veteran of nine MLB seasons and had a strong 2.66 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, a career-high-tying two saves, 19 walks and 48 strikeouts in 40 2/3 relief innings in 2023 in his return to the Bronx. If healthy, Kahnle can give New York's bullpen a big boost when he's able to return.
New York Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session either Thursday or Friday at the club's spring training facility in Tampa Bay. The right-hander has been sidelined due to a shoulder issue this spring but appears to be trending in the right direction in his rehab. It was a successful return to the Bronx for the veteran in 2023, as Kahnle worked to a 2.66 ERA across 42 appearances after posting a 2.84 ERA in an injury-shortened 13 appearances in a brief stint with the Dodgers in 2022. Upon his return, Kahnle won't get many save opportunities behind Clay Holmes but could be a solid source of holds after recording 14 of them in the 2023 season.
New York Yankees right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle (shoulder) felt no pain in his right shoulder during a bullpen session in camp on Wednesday, but he acknowledged he's behind the other relievers and isn't likely to be included on the Opening Day roster. Kahnle's shoulder inflammation took longer to clear up in the offseason, so he started his throwing program around two weeks late. The 34-year-old also ended the 2023 campaign on the injured list due to right-shoulder inflammation. When healthy, Kahnle was a key part of New York's bullpen, recording a 2.66 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, two saves, 19 walks and 48 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings of relief. He also started last season on the 60-day IL due to biceps tendinitis, so staying healthy has been a problem for him in the last year.