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Red Sox sign former Yankees reliever (minor league deal) after numerous attempts in the past
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- Red Sox sign former Yankees reliever (minor league deal) after numerous attempts in the past
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Days after shoring up their bullpen with the signing of lefty Danny Coulombe , the Red Sox have added another veteran reliever to the mix.
Boston has agreed to sign right-hander Tommy Kahnle to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training, a source confirmed Tuesday. The New York Post’s Jon Heyman first reported the deal .
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Kahnle’s deal, which is believed to include multiple opt-outs, would reportedly pay him $1.5 million if he reaches the majors and includes another $250,000 in potential incentives. It’s unclear if Kahnle could be ready in time for Opening Day next Thursday, but the Red Sox will be able to assess his progress later this week at Fenway South. Kahnle pitched for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic but had remained unsigned all winter. He pitched scoreless innings against Nicaragua (March 8) and the Netherlands (March 10) and a shutout frame against the Marlins in a pre-tournament exhibition game.
Kahnle joins the Red Sox after repeated flirtations between the sides over the years. Boston pursued the 36-year-old as a free agent numerous times and came close to signing him on multiple occasions, including after 2020, when he signed with the Dodgers , and in 2022, when he returned to the Yankees on a two-year deal after spurning a Boston offer that was “very close” to the Yankees ’. Now, Kahnle is a late entrant into the bullpen competition with fewer than 10 days to go before spring training.
The Red Sox will feature closer Aroldis Chapman and setup man Garrett Whitlock at the back of their relief corps with righties Greg Weissert and Justin Slaten certain to crack the team along with Coulombe, as long as he’s ready after signing late in camp. Additionally, righty Zack Kelly and lefty Jovani Morán appear to be well-positioned to fill the sixth and seventh of Boston’s available eight spots with a group of unproven arms — including Rule 5 pick Ryan Watson and non-roster invitees Kyle Keller and Tayron Guerrero — competing for the final opening. Kahnle could surely factor into that group if built up enough to be in the mix for Opening Day — or threaten the role of someone like Kelly or Keller, both of whom have minor league options remaining.
A veteran of 11 big league seasons (including six with the Yankees), Kahnle had an uneven 2025 season with the Tigers, posting a 4.43 ERA (and 4.72 FIP) in 63 innings over 66 games. Once again relying on his changeup an exorbitant amount (85.6%, per Statcast), Kahnle saw his walk rate rise (4.4 per 9 innings) and strikeout rate fall (7.1 per 9 innings). He had particularly strong seasons in 2024 and 2025, logging a 2.38 ERA in 83.1 innings for New York during that span.
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Kahnle won’t immediately be added to the 40-man roster, so the Red Sox will have some flexibility with him in the coming days. Like with veterans Adam Ottavino and Matt Moore a year ago, Boston can get a close look at Kahnle and see if he has something left in the tank before deciding if he’s worth a roster spot.
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