**AL Central Arms Race Heats Up: Tigers Snag Former Yankees Reliever Tommy Kahnle After Missing Out on Pressly**
While Kansas City Royals fans buzzed over the Carlos Estévez signing on January 29, their division rivals in Detroit made a stealthy move of their own. Just hours earlier, the Tigers inked veteran reliever Tommy Kahnle to a one-year, $7.75 million deal, as reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The signing came days after Detroit’s failed pursuit of two-time All-Star Ryan Pressly, whom the Houston Astros attempted to trade to the Tigers before he vetoed the deal and landed with the Cubs instead.
**Kahnle’s Rocky Road to Detroit**
The 34-year-old right-hander brings a journeyman résumé and high-risk, high-reward potential to the Tigers’ bullpen. Drafted by the Yankees in 2010, Kahnle’s career has been a rollercoaster of trades, injuries, and flashes of dominance. After Rule 5 stints with the Rockies and White Sox, he returned to the Yankees in 2017, where he posted a stellar 2.59 ERA in 2019 and earned AL Reliever of the Month honors. But recurring arm issues—including 2020 Tommy John surgery and multiple IL stints for shoulder inflammation and biceps tendinitis—have plagued his consistency.
**Durability Remains the Elephant in the Room**
Kahnle’s 2023–24 stats hint at upside: a 2.11 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 42.2 innings last season, plus a clutch 2.08 ERA in nine playoff appearances for the Yankees. However, his availability is a glaring concern. Since 2020, he’s missed *entire seasons* (2021) and chunks of others due to injuries, raising questions about his ability to anchor a full campaign. For Detroit, the gamble hinges on whether his arm holds up to reinforce a bullpen that already includes Alex Lange and Jason Foley.
**AL Central Bullpens Load Up for 2025**
Detroit’s move follows a flurry of reliever signings across the division. The Guardians locked down Paul Sewald, the Royals nabbed Estévez, and the Tigers’ pivot to Kahnle signals a fierce competition to counter lineups like Minnesota’s powerhouse offense. If Kahnle stays healthy, he could be a stealthy weapon. But in a division where every game matters, his medical history looms large. One thing’s clear: The AL Central’s reliever carousel just got a lot more interesting.
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