Tommy Kahnle DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Free-agent right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle and the Detroit Tigers agreed to a one-year, $7.75 million deal on Wednesday, pending a physical, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan. Kahnle, who features one of the better changeups in baseball, should feature in a middle-relief role for a Tigers bullpen that was surprisingly strong in 2024. The 35-year-old will come with a lengthy injury history, but he was a strength out of the New York Yankees' bullpen the last two seasons, posting a combined 2.38 ERA (3.99 FIP) and 1.13 WHIP with three saves, 94 strikeouts and 38 walks in 83 1/3 innings pitched. While he probably won't really be in the mix for saves in a bullpen that also features Jason Foley, Beau Brieske and Tyler Holton, Kahnle could be useful to fantasy managers in leagues that count holds. He only has eight career saves in 10 MLB seasons.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, free agent relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle is drawing interest from eight clubs. Kahnle enjoyed a strong 2024 season with the New York Yankees, posting a 2.11 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP across 42 2/3 innings of work. He struck out batters at a modest 25.7% clip and generated a strong .203 xBA. He also generated an excellent 59.8% ground ball rate and a 32.1% hard-hit rate which were both among the top marks among pitchers last season. Kahnle tallied 16 holds as he was typically deployed in a set-up role for the Yankees. Given the reported interest, many clubs may view the 35-year-old as a potential closer. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor where he signs, as he could be a valuable target in leagues that score holds if he joins a competing club.

Free agent reliever Tommy Kahnle is drawing attention on the open market, with up to eight teams showing interest in adding his services. Kahnle pitched for the Yankees last season, posting a 2.11 ERA (4.01 FIP), 1.15 WHIP, and a 15.1% K-BB% while collecting 16 holds and one save over 42 2/3 IP during the regular season. The 35-year-old even pitched eight-and-two-thirds innings of scoreless ball in the postseason before allowing all three batters he faced in the eighth inning of Game 5 of the World Series to reach base, ultimately going down as the losing pitcher in the series finale. Despite that, the Yankees have been rumored as one of the teams interested in bringing him back. The veteran has a career 3.47 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and a 17.8% K-BB%, but would likely only be relevant for fantasy in leagues that reward holds unless he were to be thrust into a closing role for some reason, although the righty has just eight career saves.