Free Agent Profile: Tommy Kahnle, RP
Tommy Kahnle
Position: RP B/T: R/R
Age: 35 (08/07/1989)
2024 Traditional Stats: 50 G, 42.2 IP, 0-2, 2.11 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 46 SO, 19 BB
2024 Advanced Stats: 179 ERA+, 25.7% SO%, 10.6% BB%, 3.20 xERA, 4.01 FIP, 3.55 xFIP, 0.1 fWAR, 0.8 bWAR
Rundown
Tommy Kahnle first broke onto the scene in 2014 with the Colorado Rockies where he would spend two years before bouncing around back to the team he was originally drafted by, the New York Yankees (fifth round, 2010), in 2017. He would stay with the Bronx Bombers till 2020, but after Tommy John surgery in August of that year, he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers and missed all of 2021 and only appeared in 13 games in 2022. Kahnle would then go back to the Yankees for the 2023 and 2024 seasons where, yet again, he’s a free agent.
This past season Kahnle was a backbone of the American League pennant winning New York Yankees bullpen as a premier setup man, which has been one of his main roles since entering the league. He’s been one of the most consistent relievers in baseball since returning to the Yankees in 2023, carrying a 2.38 ERA over 83 1/3 innings which will lead to the veteran being pursued by multiple contending teams.
Kahnle was a headline during this past playoff run as he threw 61 changeups in a row. Which, on the surface, seems absurd. However, there is a great reason why:
According to the Stuff+ metric (a pitch model that estimates the deception or “nastiness” of a pitch based on its movement profile), it was graded at 119, which is well above-average. Not to mention, his changed had a .157 batting average against and a .232 xwOBA during the regular season, both absurd numbers. Bottom-line, it is one of the best pitches in the big leagues, and according to Baseball Savant, was the fifth best changeup in the league.
Kahnle doesn’t only have a changeup, even though it feels like it as he throws it 73.1% of the time, as he also carries a regular four-seam fastball, a slider, and a sinker. The four-seam gets 19.3% usage while the slider and sinker usage is under six percent. While he doesnt throw the slider much, it does grade positively on both the Stuff+ at 116.
Over the last three seasons, as evident by ERAs of 2.84, 2.66, and 2.11, Kahlne has been one of the better relievers in baseball. Despite being 35 years old, if he can stay healthy, he should be a weapon for any team in 2025.
Contract
Coming hot off a two-year deal worth $11.5 million, MLB Trade Rumors is predicting another a two-year contract worth $13 million. This is a slight bump in pay from the $5.7 million annually he was making with the Yankees the past two years. Even he stays healthy, he would be well worth this given the forecasted performance.
Recommendation
The Mets like every other team in baseball will be looking for bullpen help, and Kahnle will be on a list for a lot of teams, and that is no different for the Mets. It makes sense, Kahnle on the back half of his career doesn’t have to move too far, and the Mets add a much needed high-leverage arm behind Edwin Díaz. As it currently stands, Reed Garrett and Dedniel Núñez are currently the next two relievers in line behind Díaz.
With this in mind, it is no secret president of baseball operations, David Stearns, will be active in the reliever market. If he so choses to go the route of Kahlne, that would be a great start in filling out the currently desolate Mets bullpen in 2025.
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