{"id":42219,"date":"2020-12-23T20:20:45","date_gmt":"2020-12-24T01:20:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=42219"},"modified":"2020-12-23T20:20:45","modified_gmt":"2020-12-24T01:20:45","slug":"tommy-kahnle-signs-with-los-angeles-dodgers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2020\/12\/23\/tommy-kahnle-signs-with-los-angeles-dodgers\/","title":{"rendered":"Tommy Kahnle Signs With Los Angeles Dodgers"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a> are reportedly signing free-agent reliever Tommy Kahnle<\/a><\/strong> to a two-year contract, according to the Athletic. Kahnle, 31, was released by the New York Yankees<\/a> and granted free agency after the 2020 season. He pitched only one inning in 2020 before undergoing<\/a> Tommy John surgery, which will likely keep him sidelined for 2021. With this signing, the Dodgers are betting on Kahnle to come back in 2022 as an elite late-inning reliever.<\/p>\n

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Free-agent reliever Tommy Kahnle in agreement with Dodgers on two-year contract, source tells The Athletic. Kahnle underwent Tommy John surgery in August.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 23, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Kahnle Dodgers deal is for $5.25M for 2 years. He had Tommy John surgery in August.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 23, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Dodgers bet on Kahnle’s 2022 return<\/h2>\n

Tommy Kahnle made his debut with the Colorado Rockies<\/a> in 2014. After being traded to the Chicago White Sox<\/a> following the 2015 season, Kahnle established himself as an effective relief pitcher. Since 2016, with Chicago and New York, he has a 3.48 ERA in 175 2\/3 innings. In that time, he’s averaged 12.4 K\/9 and 3.7 BB\/9.<\/p>\n

Also, Kahnle has been effective in two postseason runs with the Yankees. In 2017 and 2019, he totaled 18 strikeouts in 19 1\/3 innings of work in October, notching an ERA of 2.33. The Dodgers will be hoping Kahnle continues to be a playoff performer when he recovers from surgery.<\/p>\n

Kahnle is a hard throwing right-handed pitcher, with an average fastball velocity of 96.8 MPH since 2016. His changeup, which hovers around 90 MPH, has seen increased usage since 2016, up from 16.2% to 52.4% in 2019. In 2019, he ranked in the 96th percentile of MLB with a strikeout rate of 35.5%. If Kahnle can replicate his success of 2017 and 2019 specifically, he will be a valuable bullpen piece.<\/p>\n

From the Dodgers’ perspective, this signing indicates the low-risk, high-reward strategy that has paid off in the past, with the likes of veterans Brandon Morrow<\/a><\/strong> and Blake Treinen<\/a><\/strong>. Closer Kenley Jansen<\/a><\/strong>‘s contract is up after 2021, and the club can choose to move on from Joe Kelly<\/a><\/strong>, which leaves two openings in the bullpen. Kahnle will likely compete for a bullpen spot with a group that will include Brusdar Graterol<\/a><\/strong>, Victor Gonzalez<\/strong><\/a>, Dylan Floro<\/a><\/strong>, and Adam Kolarek<\/a><\/strong> in 2021.<\/p>\n

Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images<\/a>