When the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Tommy Kahnle to a two-year contract, it was with the right-hander likely not contributing until the 2022 season due to still recovering from Tommy John surgery.
The Dodgers were confident Kahnle would emerge as a late-inning option for manager Dave Roberts once healthy and further strengthen the backend of their bullpen. That came to be, but Kahnle’s time with the Dodgers was short-lived.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Kahnle is signing a two-year, $11.5 million contract with the New York Yankees:
Tommy Kahnle to Yankees. $11.5M, 2 years.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 6, 2022
Kahnle, who had Tommy John surgery in August 2020, hoped to pitch last year but ultimately didn’t get back onto the mound in a Major League game until May of this season. He appeared in just four games before going on the injured list because of a bone bruise in his right elbow that was believed to be related to the operation.
Upon returning this past September, Kahnle said he was feeling as healthy as he had since the surgery and posted a 1.04 ERA over 8.2 innings. He finished the 2022 season with a 2.84 ERA, 0.63 WHIP, 9.95 strikeouts per nine and 2.13 walks per nine.
Kahnle’s last full season was with the Yankees in 2019, when he pitched to a 3.67 ERA, 3.33 FIP and 1.06 WHIP with 88 strikeouts and 20 walks over 61.1 innings. Kahnle’s best season was in 2017, which saw him post a 2.59 ERA, 1.83 FIP and 1.12 WHIP with 96 strikeouts to 17 walks in 62.2 innings.
Dodgers bullpen without Tommy Kahnle, Chris Martin
Kahnle joins Chris Martin as members of this past season’s Dodgers bullpen who became a free agent and signed elsewhere. Martin joined the team at the trade deadline, pitched well and turned it into a multi-year contract with the Boston Red Sox.
The Red Sox were also reported as having serious interest in signing Kahnle as well.
As for the Dodgers bullpen moving forward, the group figures to include Yency Almonte, Brusdar Graterol, Caleb Ferguson, Daniel Hudson, Shelby Miller, Evan Phillips and Alex Vesia.
President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Brandon Gomes have both indicated the Dodgers are unlikely to add a dedicated closer.
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