The Yankees have curiosity in one other reunion with right-hander Tommy Kahnle, stories Jon Heyman of the New York Publish, although the veteran reliever has drawn a minimum of some degree of curiosity from as many as seven different golf equipment. Kahnle stated after the Yankees’ season ended that he hoped to return to the Bronx as a free agent, so the curiosity appears mutual. He’s one in every of three free agent relievers popping out of the Yankees’ bullpen this offseason, becoming a member of Clay Holmes and Tim Hill. The Publish’s Dan Martin writes that Holmes is predicted to signal elsewhere in free company.
The 35-year-old Kahnle and the Yankees proceed to search out their approach again to 1 one other. New York drafted the righty within the fifth spherical again in 2010, misplaced him to the Rockies within the 2013 Rule 5 Draft, acquired him from the White Sox on the 2017 commerce deadline after which signed him as a free agent within the 2022-23 offseason. He’s spent components of six seasons in pinstripes, logging a mixed 3.31 out of the Yankees’ bullpen.
Kahnle’s most up-to-date stint with the Yankees noticed him log a mixed 2.38 ERA in 83 1/3 regular-season innings from 2023-24. He fanned a robust 27.3% of his opponents in that point but in addition issued walks at an unpalatable 11% clip. He missed time in every of these seasons with shoulder troubles, nevertheless.
Kahnle saved the ball within the yard properly over the previous couple seasons (1.08 HR/9) regardless of Yankee Stadium’s brief porch in proper discipline. That’s partially as a result of the overwhelming use of his changeup helped him neutralize left-handed hitters. Almost three quarters of Kahnle’s pitches in 2023-24 have been changeups. Lefties posted an terrible .172/.267/.338 slash in opposition to him in that point. Spamming his changeup to that extent has additionally helped Kahnle hold the ball on the bottom at a hearty 54.1% clip in that point — together with a gaudy 58.9% mark in 2024. The Yankees usually present an affinity for grounder-heavy pitchers within the bullpen.
In fact, what was a usually profitable third stint with the Yankees ended on a bitter word. Kahnle rattled off seven scoreless innings between the ALDS and ALCS through the 2024 postseason and received out to a high-quality begin within the World Collection as nicely, yielding solely an unearned run in his first two appearances (1 2/3 innings). Nevertheless, it was Kahnle who loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a stroll whereas attempting to guard a 6-5 lead within the decisive Sport 5 of the World Collection. He was lifted with out recording an out and saddled with the loss after two of his baserunners ultimately got here round to attain. That exhibiting apparently didn’t bitter the Yankees on the changeup specialist, however for now they’re simply one in every of a number of groups within the combine for his providers.
