NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 8: Tommy Kahnle #41 of the New York Yankees takes the field before the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Yankee Stadium on June 8, 2024, in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)
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The Boston Red Sox have endured a roller coaster season, highlighted by high preseason expectations, a poor start, the exit of long-time manager Alex Cora and more headline-grabbing issues.
But now one of the more compelling lower-level roster sagas from the season has reached its apparent conclusion, as veteran reliever Tommy Kahnle has cut ties with the team following some ups and downs.
Boston Red Sox Move On From Former New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers Arm After Difficult Stretch
Kahnle has spent more than a decade carving out a lengthy major league career, pitching for several contenders while establishing himself as a trusted late-inning option. His resume includes two separate stints with the New York Yankees and a productive run with the Los Angeles Dodgers before he arrived in Boston this season.
The 36-year-old indicated that he would leave the team via a contract opt-out if he was not promoted to the big-league club, which he was soon afterward. But that run did not last very long, as he struggled to contribute solid innings. That led to him being designated for assignment and then his decision to leave the organization.
“Four days after being designated for assignment by the Red Sox, veteran reliever Tommy Kahnle is officially departing the organization,” Chris Cotillo reported for MassLive. “The Red Sox cut Kahnle from their 40-man roster after he allowed four earned runs and four hits in a poor eighth inning in Tuesday’s loss to the (Washington) Nationals.”
The outing proved to be the breaking point after what had initially looked like a promising return to the majors in Boston.
“After beginning his tenure with five shutout innings over four games from June 4-14, Kahnle allowed eight earned runs in his last four innings,” Cotillo added. “In nine innings over eight games with Boston, he allowed eight earned runs on 12 hits while walking six batters and striking out five.”
Former Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers Veteran Could Still Draw Interest
Despite the disappointing finish to his brief Red Sox tenure, Kahnle’s overall track record suggests another organization could be willing to take a chance on him.
“Control has often been a problem for Kahnle over his 12 Major League seasons, and he has also been prone to some ill-timed home runs,” Mark Polishuk wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. “These flaws and a changeup-heavy arsenal haven’t stopped Kahnle from being a generally effective reliever for most of his career, and he had a 2.44 ERA over 96 relief innings with the Dodgers and Yankees during the 2022-24 seasons.”
Some notable success with both the Dodgers and Yankees could still make him an attractive depth option for clubs seeking bullpen help later this season. While his Boston stint unraveled quickly, Kahnle has repeatedly shown throughout his career that he can bounce back after difficult stretches.
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