The Yankees‘ bullpen will have a very different look this season, and one of their most recognizable arms is on the way out.
Right-hander Tommy Kahnle is leaving the Bronx again, this time for Detroit. The veteran reliever signed a one-year, $7.75 million contract with the Tigers, according to multiple reports. Robert Murray of FanSided confirmed the deal and its terms. Kahnle, 35, spent parts of five seasons with the Yankees across three separate stints but now moves on to a Tigers team looking to fortify its bullpen.
Kahnle’s history with the Yankees
Tommy Kahnle, originally drafted by the Yankees in 2010, rejoined the team in December 2022 on a two-year, $11.5 million contract. Injuries derailed the early parts of both seasons—biceps tendinitis in 2023 and shoulder inflammation in 2024—but when healthy, he remained an effective late-inning option. Over the past two seasons, Kahnle posted a 2.38 ERA across 92 appearances, spanning 83.1 innings. Last year, he worked primarily as a setup man, logging a 2.11 ERA with 46 strikeouts and 19 walks over 50 games.
Tommy Kahnle’s success is tied to his elite changeup, a pitch that Baseball Savant graded with a +10 run value last season. He relied on it heavily—throwing it 73% of the time in 2024 and famously going on a stretch of 61 consecutive changeups during the Yankees’ playoff run. The heavy usage stemmed from his fastball, which lacks the same level of effectiveness, forcing him to lean on his best weapon.
The Yankees’ bullpen is undergoing a significant transition. Former closer Clay Holmes signed with the Mets earlier in the offseason, and left-hander Tim Hill remains a free agent. New York made multiple additions to bolster the unit, acquiring Devin Williams—who will take over the closer role—along with Fernando Cruz and Michael Arias in separate trades. Jonathan Loáisiga, meanwhile, returned on a one-year deal with a club option for 2026.
With Tommy Kahnle out of the picture, the Yankees must settle on another primary setup option alongside Luke Weaver. Internal candidates include Jake Cousins, Cruz, Ian Hamilton, Mark Leiter Jr., and Loáisiga. Spring training will provide clarity on who emerges as Aaron Boone’s most trusted arms for high-leverage situations, but the bullpen’s turnover is one of the biggest storylines heading into the season.
For Tommy Kahnle, this marks yet another departure from the Yankees. After originally coming up in New York’s system, he was lost in the Rule 5 draft before making his way back in 2017 as part of the deal that brought David Robertson and Todd Frazier to the Bronx. He left for the Dodgers in 2021 following Tommy John surgery but returned for a third stint with the Yankees two years later. Now, he heads to Detroit, where the Tigers hope he can bring the same effectiveness he showed in New York—assuming he can stay on the mound.
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