Tommy Kahnle’s second stint with the Yankees has come to an end.
The right-handed reliever agreed to a one-year, $7.75 million contract with the Detroit Tigers, the Daily News confirmed. The deal is pending a physical.
Kahnle, 35, pitched to a 2.11 ERA and 46 strikeouts over 42.2 innings with the Yankees last year.
He leaves with a 3.31 ERA over six seasons with the Yankees from 2017-20 and 2023-24.
Once in possession of an upper-90s fastball, Kahnle still averaged 94.2 mph with his four-seamer last year, but he’s relied much more on his changeup in recent seasons.
He used his changeup 73.1% of the time during the 2024 regular season, then threw 61 consecutive changeups during one stretch in the playoffs.
Kahnle pitched to a 2.08 ERA over 8.2 innings last postseason, but he was on the mound for two pivotal moments in the Yankees’ World Series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In Game 1, Kahnle surrendered an eighth-inning double to Shohei Ohtani that turned into the game-tying run.
In Game 5, Kahnle entered in the eighth inning with the Yankees up, 6-5, but he loaded the bases without recording an out. He was ultimately charged with two runs and took the loss.
Kahnle joins a Tigers team whose 2.41 bullpen ERA in September ranked third in baseball, helping upstart Detroit clinch a Wild-Card berth.
Kahnle becomes the second Yankee to leave for Detroit this offseason, joining second baseman Gleyber Torres, who signed a one-year, $15 million contract with the Tigers in December.
The Yankees, meanwhile, added All-Star closer Devin Williams and fellow right-hander Fernando Cruz to their bullpen this offseason. Clay Holmes, their closer for most of the last three seasons, left for a three-year contract with the Mets, who plan to use him as a starting pitcher.
KIM TO RAYS
An American League East rival made a notable addition to its infield Wednesday, as the Tampa Bay Rays agreed to terms with Ha-Seong Kim.
It’s a two-year, $29 million contract with an opt-out, according to ESPN.
Kim is likely out until May after undergoing right shoulder surgery, but he is expected to play shortstop once he returns.
The South Korean-born Kim boasts 47 home runs and 78 stolen bases over four MLB seasons with the San Diego Padres and is a strong defender at shortstop, second base and third base.
In 2023, he posted career highs with a .260 average, 17 home runs, 38 steals, a .749 OPS and a 5.8 WAR while winning a Gold Glove as a utility player.
Kim endured a down season last year, however, hitting .233 with a .700 OPS before suffering a season-ending tear to his labrum in August.
The Yankees, meanwhile, still have a question mark at either second base or third, depending on where they use Jazz Chisholm Jr. Internal options include DJ LeMahieu, who hit .204 with a .527 OPS in 67 games last season, and utility man Oswaldo Cabrera.