Yankees Lose Solid Bullpen Piece as Tommy Kahnle Signs with Surprise Team

He was one of the most important pieces of the New York Yankees' bullpen in 2024, a high-leverage arm who posted a 2.11 ERA and held batters to a .190 average. But Tommy Kahnle has bolted from the Bronx in free agency, heading to the Detroit Tigers.

Free-agent reliever Tommy Kahnle and the Detroit Tigers are in agreement on a one-year, $7.75 million contract, pending physical, according to a source familiar with the deal. @JonHeyman said the sides were close.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) January 29, 2025

It's a one-year, $7.75 million contract for Kahnle in the Motor City, where he'll take his devastating changeup and impressive run over the last eight seasons. It's been reported that about 10 teams had interest in Kahnle this winter.

Since 2016, the 35-year-old has a 3.11 ERA, 11.26 K/9 and is a great late-inning addition to the Tigers' bullpen. His numbers look even more impressive when he utilizes his infamous changeup, which he did with extreme regularity in 2024, throwing the pitch 73.1% of the time. And in 121 at-bats that ended on a changeup, he held batters to a .157 average.

Detroit has had a nice offseason, also adding starter Alex Cobb and second baseman Gleyber Torres in free agency.