Tigers swiping 2 Yankees free agents could end up tipping scales in pennant race

The Tigers frustrated fans with what appeared to be a somewhat lackadaisical offseason approach, but the majority of their signings are paying off for Detroit. Alex Cobb already looks like a bust, and the Tigers signed José Urquidy knowing that he'd have to start the season on the 60-day IL, but Jack Flaherty, Gleyber Torres and Tommy Kahnle have paid varying amounts of dividends.

Torres and Kahnle came to Detroit as a direct result of the Yankees letting them go. They were never going to keep Torres, who both the team and fans were just waiting to depart by the end of 2024, but they probably should've kept Kahnle.

This year, Torres leads American League second basemen in fWAR, OPS and OBP, and he's second in RBI only to the Rays' Brandon Lowe. He very well could earn his first All-Star starting job since 2019. Kahnle has a 1.24 ERA in 29 innings, nine holds, and eight saves. He's become the perfect complement to closer Will Vest in late innings for Detroit.

Both are only on one-year deals, but they've proven to be the exact veterans the Tigers needed and could be huge difference-makers in the Tigers' pennant chase.

Tigers have to thank the Yankees for letting go of Gleyber Torres and Tommy Kahnle

Despite a short stint on the IL in early April, Torres came back like nothing happened and leads the Tigers in OBP by 20 points. He's second on the team in walks at 35, but Torres also has over 30 fewer strikeouts than Torkelson. He's also third on the team in BABIP at .295. The Athletic's Jim Bowden tabbed Torres as the AL's starting second baseman in Atlanta this year.

Kahnle was incredibly solid in his last two years as a Yankee, but he's somehow gotten better this season. He's leaning on his changeup even more heavily in 2025, but it has an even lower batting average against than it did in 2023 and 2024. He's only given up a single hit on his much lesser-used fastball in all 29 innings, and he's tied with Tyler Holton for the fewest walks allowed for any Tigers reliever who's pitched over 25 innings.

The Tigers still have the best record in baseball and are 20 games over .500 for this first time since 2013, and Torres and Kahnle have been perfect additions. So thanks, Yankees.