The New York Yankees recently finalized the signing of Tommy Kahnle to a two-year contract, marking a return to the organization he pitched for from 2017-2020. Terms of Kahnle’s contract were not released, but his deal is said to be worth $11.5 million.
Lucas Luetge was designated for assignment in order to make room for Kahnle on the Yankees’ 40-man roster. He returned to the Yankees after spending the past two years with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but pitching in only one of those.
The Dodgers signed Kahnle to a two-year contract in December 2020, when he was in the early stages of recovering from Tommy John surgery. The right-hander hoped to pitch for the team late during the 2021 season, but the Dodgers erred on the side of caution.
Prior to getting back into Major League action this year, Kahnle completed a rehab assignment with Low-A Rancho Cucamonga and Triple-A Oklahoma City. His Dodgers debut came May 1 against the Detroit Tigers, when Kahnle struck out two and retired all three batters faced.
Kahnle appeared in four games during the month of May before going on the 15-day injured list due to a bone bruise in his right elbow. The injury was believed to be related to undergoing Tommy John surgery, and it wound up sidelining Kahnle until the middle of September.
He nonetheless emerged as a viable late-inning option upon coming off the IL. Kahnle finished the 2022 season with a 2.84 ERA, 0.63 WHIP, 9.95 strikeouts per nine innings and 2.13 walks per nine.
While with the Yankees from 2017-2020, he went 6-3 with one save and a 4.01 ERA. His best season was 2017, when Kahnle pitched to a 2.59 ERA, 1.83 FIP and 1.12 WHIP with 96 strikeouts to 17 walks in 62.2 innings.
Over parts of eight seasons with the Colorado Rockies (2014-2015), Chicago White Sox (2016-2017), Yankees (2017-2020) and Dodgers (2022), Kahnle is a combined 9-9 with five saves and a 3.78 ERA in 298 career relief appearances.
How will Dodgers replace Tommy Kahnle?
In addition to Kahnle, the 2022 Dodgers bullpen has seen the departures of Craig Kimbrel and Chris Martin as well. Jimmy Nelson remains a free agent and so too is David Price, but he is not expected to pitch next season.
The Dodgers seemingly will replace Kahnle with their internal options, and also added Shelby Miller to add depth.
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