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Detroit Tigers sign reliever Tommy Kahnle to one-year contract in free agency
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- Detroit Tigers sign reliever Tommy Kahnle to one-year contract in free agency
The Detroit Tigers have added to their bullpen.
The Tigers signed right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle to a one-year, $7.75 million contract, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the agreement. The 35-year-old, known for his wicked changeups, is a swing-and-miss reliever for high leverage situations, which fits exactly what the Tigers needed to improve their bullpen.
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The deal, agreed to Wednesday, is pending a physical exam.
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CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 17: Tommy Kahnle #41 of the New York Yankees throws a pitch during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Guardians during Game Three of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field on October 17, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Kahnle, who turns 36 in early August, registered a 2.11 ERA with 19 walks and 46 strikeouts across 42⅔ innings in 50 relief appearances for the New York Yankees in the 2024 season. He ranked elite in whiff rate (36%) and above average in strikeout rate (25.7%), but he ranked below average in walk rate (10.6%).
He also had an elite 59.8% groundball rate.
Kahnle threw four pitch types last season: changeup (73.1%), four-seam fastball (19.3%), slider (5.6%) and sinker (2%). His fastball averaged 94.2 mph, and his changeup generated a 38.9% whiff rate. He thrived against both right-handed and left-handed hitters, as righties hit .213 with a .684 OPS and lefties hit .169 with a .575 OPS.
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Before joining the Tigers, Kahnle pitched 10 MLB seasons for four teams: Colorado Rockies (2014-15), Chicago White Sox (2016-17), Yankees (2017-20, 2023-24) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2022).
He underwent Tommy John surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow in August 2020, missing the entire 2021 season. He has been injured in every season since then, missing four months in 2022 with right forearm inflammation, two months in 2023 with right biceps tendinitis and two months in 2024 with right shoulder inflammation.
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Kahnle owns a 3.47 ERA in his MLB career, spanning 373⅔ innings in 390 games. He only has eight saves in his career, but he has the swing-and-miss ability to handle save situations for the Tigers in the 2025 season, as long as he throws strikes. He also possesses four years of postseason experience, with 30 innings in 27 games.
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For 2025, the Tigers have five relievers locked into the Opening Day roster: Kahnle, right-hander Jason Foley , left-handed reliever Tyler Holton , righty Will Vest and righty Beau Brieske . Kahnle had the highest swing-and-miss rate among them last season.
The other three bullpen spots will be up for grabs in spring training.
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The Tigers have added three players via free agency in the 2024-25 offseason: Kahnle (one year, $7.75 million), right-hander Alex Cobb (one year, $15 million) and second baseman Gleyber Torres (one year, $15 million). The Tigers have been in the mix for third baseman Alex Bregman , who seeks a long-term contract.
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Kahnle was selected by the Yankees in the fifth round of the 2010 draft from Lynn University in Florida. He made his MLB debut in April 2014 with the Rockies.
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He needs 48 more strikeouts to achieve 500 in his career.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers sign Tommy Kahnle, free agent reliever, one-year deal
