DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers today signed right-handed pitcher Tommy Kahnle to a one-year, $7,750,000 contract for the 2025 season.
Kahnle, 35, joins Detroit for his 11th Major League season. Over the last three years he has been one of baseball’s most reliable bullpen arms, posting a 2.44 ERA (96.0IP/26ER), 1.06 WHIP and 10.13 K/9 rate. Among the 237 pitchers with at least 75 relief appearances over that span, Kahnle ranks in the 96th percentile for opponent batting average (.180), 94th percentile in ERA, and 84th percentile in OPS against (.608). From 2023-24, his 2.38 ERA ranks 10th among all big league pitchers with at least 80 appearances.
Overall, Kahnle has gone 10-14 with eight saves, a 10.89 K/9.0IP rate and a 3.84 ERA (373.2IP/144ER) in 390 career appearances, which includes time 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, his 11.97 K/9 rate is the eighth-highest mark in the majors among relievers (min. 1,000 batters faced). He also has ample post-season experience, going 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA (30.0IP/10ER) and a 1.03 WHIP in 27 career relief outings, including a World Series appearance with the Yankees in 2024.
Last season, Kahnle went 0-2 with one save and a 2.11 ERA (42.2IP/10ER) in 50 relief appearances. Opponents batted .190/.285/.342, and he was equally tough on both left-handed hitters (.169/.274/.301) and right-handed hitters (.213/.298/.387). Kahnle did not allow an earned run in 44 of his 50 appearances, including 39 of his final 43 games from June 12-September 27, posting a 1.47 ERA (36.2IP/6ER) with 40 strikeouts during that 43-game stretch.
Born in Latham, NY, Kahnle attended Lynn University (FL) from where the Yankees drafted him in the 5th round of the 2010 MLB Draft.
