DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers have secured right-handed pitcher Tommy Kahnle with a one-year, $7.75 million contract for the 2025 season.
Kahnle, 35, is entering his 11th Major League season. Over the past three years, he has established himself as one of the most dependable bullpen arms in baseball, boasting a 2.44 ERA (96.0 IP/26 ER), a 1.06 WHIP, and a 10.13 K/9 rate. Among the 237 pitchers with at least 75 relief appearances during this period, Kahnle ranks in the 96th percentile for opponent batting average (.180), the 94th percentile in ERA, and the 84th percentile in OPS against (.608). In 2023-2024, his 2.38 ERA was the 10th best among all big league pitchers with at least 80 appearances.
Overall, Kahnle has a record of 10-14 with eight saves, a 10.89 K/9 rate, and a 3.84 ERA (373.2 IP/144 ER) in 390 career appearances. His career includes stints with the Colorado Rockies (2014-15), Chicago White Sox (2016-17), New York Yankees (2017-20, 23-24), and Los Angeles Dodgers (2022). Since 2017, Kahnle’s 11.97 K/9 rate is the eighth-highest among relievers (minimum 1,000 batters faced). He also brings substantial postseason experience, with a 2-1 record, a 3.00 ERA (30.0 IP/10 ER), and a 1.03 WHIP in 27 relief outings, including a World Series appearance with the Yankees in 2024.
In the last season, Kahnle posted a 0-2 record with one save and a 2.11 ERA (42.2 IP/10 ER) in 50 relief appearances. Opponents batted .190/.285/.342 against him, with left-handed hitters managing just .169/.274/.301 and right-handed hitters .213/.298/.387. Kahnle didn’t allow an earned run in 44 of his 50 appearances, including 39 of his final 43 games from June 12 to September 27, during which he recorded a 1.47 ERA (36.2 IP/6 ER) with 40 strikeouts.
Hailing from Latham, NY, Kahnle attended Lynn University in Florida and was drafted by the Yankees in the 5th round of the 2010 MLB Draft.
