The Detroit Tigers have added a hefty arm to their bullpen, signing right-hander Tommy Kahnle to a one-year, $7.75 million contract, per Jeff Passan .
Kahnle, who has spent 6 of his 11 seasons with the New York Yankees, is coming off a career year . Across 42 2/3 innings, the 35-year-old pitched to a 2.11 ERA (196 ERA+) with 46 strikeouts in 2024. He topped it off in the postseason with a superb 2.08 ERA in nine outings to help New York reach the World Series.
Tigers Sign Tommy Kahnle
Coming up with the Colorado Rockies, Kahnle struggled for his first two seasons, registering negative brWARs in both 2014 and ’15. Before the 2016 season, Kahnle was dealt to the Chicago White Sox, where he found success utilizing his signature changeup. At the 2017 trade deadline, he was once again traded, this time to the New York Yankees. Kahnle was a huge contributor to New York’s 2017 postseason run, allowing just 3 runs over 11 1/3 innings.
After his huge 2017 campaign, Kahnle didn’t perform at the same level over his next three years with the Yankees. It eventually culminated in Tommy John surgery, which ended his 2020 season after just one game and caused him to miss the entirety of 2021. He returned not only to the field but to prime form with the Dodgers in 2022, once again boasting a sub-3 ERA (2.84). That offseason, the right-hander reunited with the Yankees, signing a two-year, $11.5 million deal.
His past two seasons with New York have arguably been his best, despite his age (35). Not only has he produced a bWAR of 1.9 over those two seasons, but he pitched 83 1/3 innings of 2.37 ERA ball with 94 strikeouts, not to mention allowing just 38 walks and 10 homers. Kahnle’s continued success is proof of how so many of the best modern relievers are able to sustain their longevity and value throughout their careers.
Kahnle can give the Tigers a needed swing-and-miss option for the late innings. The Detroit bullpen ranked fifth in MLB with a 3.55 ERA last season.
Main Photo: © Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
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