The New York Yankees today announced that they have signed RHP Tommy Kahnle to a two-year Major League contract extending through the 2024 season.
Kahnle, 33, recorded a 2.84 ERA (12.2IP, 5H, 4ER, 3BB, 14K, 2HR) and one save in 13 relief appearances with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022. In 15 combined rehab appearances (three starts) this past season with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and Triple-A Oklahoma City, he went 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA (13.1IP, 13H, 5ER, 3BB, 14K, 2HR).
Over parts of eight Major League seasons with the Colorado Rockies (2014-15), Chicago White Sox (2016-17), the Yankees (2017-20) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2022), Kahnle has gone 9-9 with five saves and a 3.78 ERA (290.1IP, 230H, 142R/122ER, 135BB, 358K, 30HR) in 298 career relief appearances. He missed the entire 2021 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on August 4, 2020. His 12.91 strikeouts-per-9.0-innings is the ninth-highest mark in the Majors among relievers since 2017 (min. 500BF).
In four seasons with the Yankees from 2017-20, the right-handed pitcher went 6-3 with one save and a 4.01 ERA (112.1IP, 94H, 57R/50ER, 46BB, 157K, 13HR) in 129 relief appearances. In 2019, Kahnle went 3-2 with a 3.67 ERA (61.1IP, 45H, 27R/25ER, 20BB, 88K, 9HR) in a career-high 72 relief appearances (tied for sixth in the AL). Of his 72 relief outings, 42 were hitless and scoreless. Kahnle earned his first career monthly honor in July 2019 as he was named the “Reliever of the Month” in the American League after posting a 0.77 ERA (11.2IP, 5H, 1ER, 2BB, 17K) in 12 relief appearances, limiting opponents to .128/.171/.154 during the month.
In 18 career postseason relief appearances (15 appearances with the Yankees, three appearances with the Los Angeles Dodgers), he has gone 1-0 with one save and a 3.38 ERA (21.2IP, 12H, 8ER, 6BB, 22K, 2HR).
The Latham, N.Y., native was originally selected by the Yankees in the fifth round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of Lynn University (Fla.). He was then selected by the Colorado Rockies in the Major League phase of the 2013 Rule 5 Draft. On November 24, 2015, Kahnle was acquired by the Chicago White Sox from Colorado in exchange for RHP Yency Almonte. He was acquired by the Yankees from Chicago-AL on July 18, 2017, alongside INF Todd Frazier and RHP David Robertson in exchange for RHP Tyler Clippard, LHP Ian Clarkin, OF Blake Rutherford and OF Tito Polo. On December 29, 2020, Kahnle signed a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Yankees designated LHP Lucas Luetge for assignment.
