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Tigers' Tommy Kahnle adds to Yankees' revenge factor alongside Gleyber Torres

Emma Lingan
Emma Lingan

Motor City Bengals

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tommy Kahnle works out during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

When Tommy Kahnle reached free agency after the World Series ended, many expected the 35-year-old righty reliever to return to the New York Yankees. However, even after six years in pinstripes, Kahnle received shockingly little respect from the team he had just helped to win its first pennant since 2009.

Kahnle, who finished the 2024 postseason with a win, a save, three holds and a 2.08 ERA in nine appearances for the Yankees, revealed on Wednesday's episode of "Foul Territory" that the Yankees showed little-to-no interest in re-signing him in free agency.

"Before anything really started to pick up, they were kind of like, 'We don't think we can meet your numbers,'" Kahnle said. "I feel like they didn't even try, to be honest."

Tigers new free agent signing Tommy Kahnle reveals Yankees 'didn't even try' to re-sign him

Kahnle eventually signed a one-year, $7.75 million deal with the Tigers in late January – certainly a contract the Yankees could have afforded if they were serious about keeping one of their best bullpen arms from their 2024 World Series run.

But alas, New York's loss is Detroit's gain. One of the league's better relievers over the past three seasons in particular, Kahnle recorded a 2.44 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP and a 10.1 K/9 in 96 innings during that span. Over his 10-year career, he is 10-14 with a 3.47 ERA and 452 strikeouts, 173 walks and 40 home runs allowed in 373 2/3 innings.

Kahnle, a veteran setup man who can be used in high-leverage situations, will bolster a relief corps that the Tigers leaned on heavily down the stretch last season when they made their unexpected run to the ALDS. Kahnle joins Beau Brieske, Jason Foley, Tyler Holton and Will Vest as late-inning options. Sean Guenther, Brenan Hanifee, Brant Hurter and Alex Lange figure to be in the mix as well this spring.

The Tigers don't have a designated closer, but Kahnle's experience may also put him in the mix to compete with Brieske and Foley for save opportunities this season. And if AJ Hinch is reading this situation, he'll make sure Kahnle gets at least one against the Yankees in 2025.

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Emma Lingan

Emma Lingan

Emma Lingan is an MLB Staff Writer for FanSided primarily covering the Pittsburgh Pirates. She has been covering baseball for more than a decade dating back to her time as a student at Wake Forest University, and she has won two gold medals as a member of the U.S. National Team delegation (2016 Pan-American Championships & 2017 World Baseball Classic). A native of Washington, D.C. and current resident of Nashville, Tenn., she is also entering her seventh season as a credentialed NHL media member and currently covers the NHL’s Nashville Predators for The Hockey News. When she's not watching hockey, baseball or football, she enjoys podcasting, reading, going to the gym, consuming large amounts of coffee and taking long walks with her dog, Minkah. You can follow her @Emma_lingan on Twitter and Instagram.