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KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 09: New York Yankees pitcher Tommy Kahnle (41) during game 3 of the ALDS between the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals on October 9, 2024 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The New York Yankees have returned as the American League leader this season, a year after winning the most games in the league and then being eliminated in the American League Division Series.
The team is enjoying another strong campaign from franchise slugger Aaron Judge, receiving more contributions from rising star Ben Rice and could have the best rotation in Major League Baseball when Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole return for their debuts.
In the meantime, though, the bullpen appears to stand out as the weakest unit on the roster with relievers aside from closer David Bednar turning in unreliable performances. As the Yankees look to establish the big-league relief corps and determine the trustworthy high-leverage options aside from Bednar, it seems it wasn’t interested in a reunion with a righty who pitched for six seasons in the Bronx.
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Former New York Yankees Pitcher Hits Open Market With Boston Red Sox Contract Clause
“Red Sox RHP Tommy Kahnle has exercised his assignment clause,” Boston WHDH’s Ari Alexander reported last week.
By exercising his clause, Kahnle, who logged more than 195 innings with more than 250 strikeouts for the Yankees, then became available to the other 29 clubs if any would put him on their major-league rosters.
“The 36-year-old, who has pitched in 456 big league games and signed a minor league contract with the Red Sox in March, has a contract clause that kicks in May 1,” MassLive’s Chris Cotillo wrote. “It is an upward mobility clause, which allows another major league club to sign him to its major league roster if the Red Sox don’t match.
On Monday, though, Cotillo reported that Kahnle had returned to the Red Sox’s Triple-A affiliate, indicating that no other team was interested in adding him.
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New York Yankees’ World Series Reliever Returns To Boston Red Sox
It wasn’t immediately clear that Kahnle wouldn’t find interest from the Yankees in a reunion or from another team, given his resume.
“Through the season’s first month, Kahnle has done a nice job trying to force Boston’s hand,” Steve Adams wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. “The 36-year-old has pitched 8 1/3 innings out of the Worcester bullpen, allowing three earned runs (3.24 ERA) on eight hits and three walks… If not the Red Sox, there seems to be a decent chance Kahnle could draw the interest of another club.”
Across his six seasons with the Yankees, Kahnle logged a 3.31 ERA and contributed to three playoff runs, including 2024’s trip to the World Series. He collected six strikeouts with no earned runs in his first seven innings, then gave up three earned runs to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a 10.80 ERA in the Fall Classic.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
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