TODAY: The Dodgers have officially announced the signing.
DECEMBER 23: The Dodgers and right-hander Tommy Kahnle are in agreement on a two-year deal that will reportedly guarantee the right-hander $4.75MM and allow him to earn an additional $750K via incentives. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal first reported the agreement, which will pay Kahnle $750K in 2021 and $3.45MM in 2022 (as reported by MLB Network’s Jon Heyman and MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, on Twitter). Kahnle is represented by the Ballengee Group.
Kahnle, 31, pitched just one inning with the Yankees this season before undergoing Tommy John surgery in August. The Yankees outrighted him off the 40-man roster at season’s end, at which point Kahnle elected free agency. He has five-plus years of Major League service time, meaning he was scheduled to become a free agent following the 2021 season anyhow. Given that he’s unlikely to pitch much next season and could miss the entire year, it was only logical that the Yankees cut him from the 40-man roster.
A reunion between the Yankees and Kahnle hasn’t seemed likely with the Yanks seemingly intent on remaining south of the luxury tax threshold, as a backloaded two-year deal for Kahnle would come with some degree of luxury ramifications based on its average annual value. His two-year deal will follow a recent trend of multi-year contracts for pitchers rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Recent examples of such contracts include Nathan Eovaldi’s two-year deal with the Rays, Michael Pineda’s (first) two-year deal with the Twins and Drew Smyly’s two-year pact with the Cubs.
In Kahnle, the Dodgers will be getting a potential impact arm to add to their late-inning mix in 2022, when Kenley Jansen’s five-year pact will have run its course. Joe Kelly’s three-year pact will also be up, though L.A. holds a $12MM club option on him for the 2022 campaign. Although Kahnle struggled through a disastrous 2018 season, he was terrific in 2016-17 and quite good in 2019 as well. He only pitched one (scoreless) inning in 2020 before going down with the injury that led to his surgery, however.
All told, Kahnle carries a 3.48 ERA and 3.05 FIP in 175 2/3 innings dating back to the 2016 season. Along the way, he’s averaged 12.4 strikeouts, 3.7 walks and 0.92 home runs per nine innings pitched. The hard-throwing Kahnle has averaged 96.8 mph on his heater in that time, which has helped contribute to an excellent 15.9 percent swinging-strike rate and a 32.8 percent opponents’ chase rate on pitches outside the strike zone.
With Jansen and Kelly perhaps both off the roster by the time Kahnle is able to pitch for the Dodgers, he’ll be joining what should be a much different-looking relief corps. Flamethrowing Brusdar Graterol will be given the opportunity to further work his way into the late-inning mix this year and could factor prominently into that group. Right-hander Dylan Floro and lefties Victor Gonzalez, Adam Kolarek and Scott Alexander are all under club control into the 2022 season as well.
I’m guessing 2 years/$5.5M, $1.25M in 2021, $4.25M in 2022.
Sounds reasonable
$5.25/2. Good guess!
Very smart signing
Why’s that?
Because he becomes the alternative to joe Kelly’s 12M club
Great relievers cost big dollars. 3-4M guarantee is hardly a big dollar signing
If the Padres did this, you’d be over the moon
Rich get richer. Good pickup for them
Good signing by the Dodgers. They can definitely afford to take the flier, and they seem to have decent luck with this type of low-risk reliever acquisition.
It’s been a real mixed bag, probably two or more lemons for every one that works out. Not a bad batting average I suppose but not quite King Midas either.
Never been a fan of overpaying relievers. In general that is a losing proposition. Few relievers are consistent enough to be worthy of big contracts. I like the Dodger approach of going cheaper and trying to sprinkle in more elite arms. In hindsight, the times they’ve attempted to spend money hasn’t worked out so well of late. Jansen’s latest contract was a bust and same for Joe Kelly. Treinen was mixed, but only a one year deal. Because of the smaller sample sizes it’s harder to get the reliever equation down.
Boston doesn’t win the World Series in 2013 without Koji
They broke their own rule signing Kelly to a multiple year and that has been a mixed bag as well. Jansen’s contract is two years too long as well. Might as well gamble on low cost short projects.
Good deal. Game on dodgers.
Kahnle’s main advantage is he’s a righty whose change makes him effective against lefties. The Yankees last year had planned to use him as a replacement for a traditional lefty-only reliever even though he’s a righty. Valuable in a game with three-batter minimum restrictions.
It sucked losing him. Also good clubhouse guy.
yah he was awesome, listen to the R2C2 podcast episodes with him, he is a funny freaking guy.
Dodgers make their first move and as usual it’s a good one. Kahnle was great for the Yanks and they never could replace him. He can pitch in the late innings with a big game on the line, and that Bugs Bunny change is hard to hit!
wow, that’s a lot for a guy coming off TJS
Have you seen the contracts given to Pineda, Smyly, and Eovaldi after their TJS? Way higher than this one. This is a steal for the Dodgers.
but they are SP. RP generally make less money then SP.
Sure, I guess, but this isn’t even close to an overpay
Yea, he’s not guarenteed the $5.35 million either. He’s set to make just $750K in 2021 and is only guarenteed $3.45 million in 2022.
TJS is a lot more “routine” these days. Not a question of will he recover but when? Fair deal. Good pitcher.
A lot of pitchers come back even stronger from TJS. Many start losing velocity long before realizing the need for surgery.
Some pitchers never recover, or have a second one. It’s no guarantee.
Same could be said about Clevinger having his second tj probability of returning to form likely not happening based on stats of people who have had it more than once
You sound so so bitter lmfao
Crafty getting him now because they will be able to work with him through rehab their way too
It seems like a lot, but I’d argue it’s not based on what relievers get paid and the probability of a decent return on the investment. The Dodgers are likely looking at Kahnle as a potential replacement for Joe Kelly, who will be coming off a 3/24 deal. The Dodgers basically get a good reliever on the equivalent of a 1/5.25 deal (I’ll bake in the incentives at full value) with the commitment spread over two years, very slightly lowering the cost of what we should view as a one year deal. Most importantly, the AAV will only be a tick over $2.6M, and low AAVs are very important to teams like the Dodgers, Yankees and Red Sox who live up at the high end of the luxury tax threshold. Kahnle as a free agent without the TJS gets what? 2/16? 3/18? I don’t know. I’m still amazed Kelly got 8/24. At this stage, I’d rather have a healthy Kahnle over Kelly, but you see my point. This is a very low cost commitment. The TJS is why. Kahnle has a high probability to return to form. He’s a high-velocity reliever who doesn’t live by command, and as I noted before, his equal effectiveness against both righties and lefties increases his value with the three-batter minimum. I wanted the Yankees to sign him on a similar deal, but they are counting every million this offseason aiming to get under the luxury tax threshold.
Brebbia was a better deal.
Still shaking my head the Red Sox didn’t want Graterol in the Mookie Betts heist.
We made out well, but I would not call it a heist. LAD got a great player.
IRT Graterol, the RS preferred a good 2B prospect over a good RP prospect, and I think most people would agree. Graterol as a starter was preferred, but as a RP?
And since Graterol had a bWAR of 0.2 in his first year of service, so far, the RS are ahead.
And just as an aside, I am surprised at his lack of Ks. It is less meaningful, in a short season, but 5.0 after almost 10/9 IP in the minors, is substantial.
The Red Sox could’ve gotten a lot more. Betts was a great player in Boston
They couldn’t have bc No one else was going for David Price even at 16 per – They got a Potential future All Star in the OF that will have all Saux fans burning their Benni jerseys in no-time – Good chance he becomes better than Denvers as well
I know this rooms not much for real history but they actually got less in the REAL deal- The media and newspapers ultimately netted Boston Downs after they reneged on their agreed upon first deal {shameful btw}
So I dont see How they coulda gotten even more more??
David Price is still a heavy heavy rock for LAD to carry today- The Red got a splendid deal before the renege, the rest was just gravy (Who happens to be your highest rated prospect now so pretty good gravy….Props Boston Globe!)
Price opting out saved the Dodgers and Boston some big bucks. Sounds like he may opt out this year too, so that “heavy rock” may not even be a pebble
You’re real sure David Price isn’t worth 16M. I don’t know why
Well, he was pretty solid from 2016-2019. Problem was 2017 where he only pitched 76 innings and 2019 where he only pitched 107 innings. Definitely not worth 30+M, but at 16M, he’d be a solid #3/#4. Tanaka had similar stats and he was making 22M a year. If David Price decides to pitch in 2021, I can see him benefit in the NL compared to the ALE where he was facing the Yankees who completely destroyed him. Plus, Price can definitely benefit if MLB decides to not have a pitcher hit in 2021.
When the dodgers acquired Price, that 16M had been previously spent on 55 innings for 38 year old rich hill
I know prices 19 numbers weren’t the best, but with the underlying story that he pitched injured, and pre injury had a 3.00 era in the ALE…
I’m very confident if he pitches in 2021, he would be well worth his 16M and pitch a lot better than the naysayers here will predict. It’s not hard for a SP to be worth 16M anymore. Especially one as talented as Price, and now with a defense as good as LA’s
Oh we can only pray empirejim – I like Price he’s a great guy, but yes that would be splendid for the org if he sat out again this year
Price would not even get a 2/25 right now in the open market. We/nobody has any idea what he’s going to be after such a long lay-off . Labeling him a certified Sp4 today might be being generous
– Not to mention a #4 Sp isnt our wisest use of capital right now. Its fine, he got us our superstar but lets not act like his contract isn’t underwater here
Saying these things out loud isn’t a jab at the Dodgers . If anything we should all be happy that next year is the first year our payroll wont be tight in quite a long time going into free agency- We wont splurge; but there will be new doors for Friedman to jump thru in every direction. That excites me, I wish David the best but Id be thrilled if I heard he retired tomorrow, might even get some sparkling apple cider to celebrate
Well, the dodgers basically overpaid to get Mookie Betts and Mookie Betts paid back the Dodgers with what he did in the playoffs. Honestly, you dodger fans should be happy and an automatic “yeah, we won the trade” no matter what David Price does.
I completely disagree about the notion that the Dodgers overpaid for Betts. If anything, I think they easily got the better end of the deal. Betts is a generational talent, and a leader. From the moment he stepped into the Dodgers clubhouse, he was that leader, and has a great personality that fits in with the Dodgers organization in general. Also, Betts was outstanding on the field from the very beginning, not just the playoffs. I also think people assuming Verdugo is going to be a perennial all-star will be sorely disappointed, and the other prospects included in the trade are a collective gamble. The Dodgers did not give up any of their best young players/prospects. As for Price, the Dodgers can take that financial hit, and it was a small price to pay even if he had not sat out at all in order to acquire Betts, and now they have him locked up for the rest of his career. Basically, I agree with your post overall, just not the part about the Dodgers overpaying.
Let’s see what stroman gets before you proclaim this to be fact. I think you’re extremely low
Graterol was one of the main relievers that helped the Dodgers win the WS.
Yes he was
Graterol had his b – tt saved by Bellinger’s over the wall catch
Agreed. Graterol is a flame thrower but lack of Ks is a concern. Right now he’s more of a thrower than a pitcher. The lack of Ks is puzzling since he has a 100 mph heater and a high velocity slider with lots of movement. If anyone is wondering Kenta Maeda had a great season last year. I would have preferred to keep Maeda. I guess I understood the trade when it was part of the Betts package. Less so when it was a one off deal with Minnesota. Two of the better AL pitchers last season were former Dodgers.
He K’d 11/9 in the minors. He knows how to strike guys out
But I truly believe LA was having him+May do the same thing, pitch to contact. Their stuff is so explosive it will create weak contact and significantly improve their pitch count. I do not believe either forgot how to K guys, at 21 and 22
Red Sox didnt know what they wanted, but thank god for the media and the whiny little fans got them an extra Jeter Downs –
Id be embarrassed in how that all went down still to this day if I was a RS sox
Graterol became Jeter Downs. It was an upgrade. I like Graterol too but this was better for the Red Sox. They got two top 100 prospects, one with a significant showing in the majors for one season of Betts. The Red Sox were well compensated.
I agree with you. Betts was obviously a huge get for my Dodgers, but they ended up with both Downs and Verdugo, who should be both be really good if not all star caliber. It was a big get for the Sox too.
Right. Just as you point out it’s not like the Dodgers got ripped off either. Betts WAS a huge get and he had a monster season for the Dodgers. It also looks like a good fit because it didn’t take long for Betts to agree to an extension.
Betts wanted the moon, team fell flat in 19, Dodgers took over half of Price contract, Sox got under the luxury tax, a major league ready OF and two prospects. They did well considering the circumstances. The Sale and Evoldi contracts forced their hand. John Henry ain’t getting any younger, has won more than any owner this millenia, and is making his investment more attractive to investors. What’s not to understand here?
Seems like everybody wants to declare a winner and a loser in trades, but most of them work for both teams. The Dodgers and Red Sox had different needs and found a way to match them up. Two winners.
So, TJS in August. Outside chance he’s ready for 2021 post season?
Reasonable chance, but do you want to use a reliever in October who you have no idea what you’ll get from? Sometimes there’s some rust that takes a while to shake off, might be great one outing and terrible the next.
Since he’s a reliever, there’s a chance he could pitch in September, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. Dodgers basically paying a max 5.25 for his 2022 performance.
Wow, this guy sure does like to sign guys who had major injuries. You have to wonder if Roy Campanella were still alive would the Dodgers sign him to catch. Can’t they get heathy pitchers. The Dodgers have so much money coming off the books next offseason that they should sign Bauer trade for Bryant to play third, call it an offseason, and go easily repeat.
Business definitely isn’t your strong suit
Pull your head out. The list of guys that have been able to regain their previous form after TJ is pretty extensive. Look no further than Buehler. But I guess you didnt like that draft pick because he was damaged goods. And you want the Dodgers to take an expensive chance on Bryant? The “so much money coming off the books” will probably be headed to Buehler, Bellinger, and Seager. You didnt really think this through, did you.
Because it worked out so bad with Trienen and the Dodgers 2020 season….
Put a team together that has made the WS in 2017, 2018, and 2020 and finally put a team that won the WS. Plus, has a farm system in the top five in 2020. I think Friedman is doing something right.
This is like the Twins signing of Pineda a couple of years ago. Its an investment that he will come back and be a quality reliever in 2020. Hope it works out and he takes Joe Kelly’s spot
This is the kind of deal I was hoping dodgers would do with Garrett Richards two years ago, but the Padres did it. Smart.
That was higher risk, higher reward. SD ended up paying him like $11M (after covid adjusted his salary down) for basically 10 starts and 50 innings.
I think on these TJ recovery 2 year deals it’s not wise to pay that much. If something goes wrong then you waste a big percentage of your payroll. The amount Kahnle is getting keeps the risk pretty low though, the 750K this year is negligible and the $3.45M in 2022 is going to be like 2% of the Dodgers total payroll so if it doesn’t work out it’s still fine. In 2019 when he was hurt and not even playing Richards took up like 7% of SD’s payroll and that risk doesn’t seem worth it under those conditions.
Nonide why they aren’t attempting to resign him either. Potential to be a the steal of the 2021 free Agent class.
Gamble here, essentially this a 1 year deal for 2022. That is actually a lot of coin for a RP coming off TJS. Dodgers can afford it thou.
Should of stayed a Yankee. Not sure who’s sitting on hands more Cashman or Steinbrener. Unreal the Yankees unwilling to do much. My guess is only bring back DJ and Gardy and lose again in October.
Of course you would say that, you’re a Yankees fan
You keep saying the Yankees want to say south of the luxury tax but every interview Brian has given he is never said that.
Could you imagine him saying that to their fan base?
22 pen- Grat Kahnle Caleb Victor. Major upside/youth/cheap
Long relief – Gonzo
Net savings to 21= 30+ mill between Kenley Kelley Knebel
Love it, stay young, no long term commitments, it just needs one last piece-
Hader for Ruiz and Rios …. perhaps you could get them down to Ruiz and White + but id still do Ruiz Rios, resign Turner on a 2/25 w 3 mill yr 3 team buyout option and head to camp
You don’t trade two everyday players for a one-inning pitcher, especially when one of the everyday players has all-star potential as a catcher. Andrew Friedman has stated that he doesn’t make dumb trades, This would be the essence of a dumb trade. It’s also not imperative to re-sign Turner. Hoese is a year away and Vargas is also a legitimate prospect at the position. Meanwhile, Rios, Muncy and Smith are capable of manning 3B in the interim. Smith being able to play 3B from time to time creates a spot for Ruiz. The reality is that the Dodgers figure to be better in 2021 without making any major moves. They have a lot of outstanding young talent and young players tend to get better. There are no real weaknesses.
In most all cases id agree with you but those “1 inn” you are talking about can be the difference between a championship and a seat at home watching the WS –
Haders not just a top tier guy, he has his own tier, and he’s remarkably cheap whereas most guys like this are getting 16-20 per –
You could argue that Hader might be the most valuable tool the Dodgers have going into any playoff series – In the reg season sure Id take the two everyday players, but Dodgers arent centering themselves around the 162 grind
* I dont think Turner is a must, but with the controlled savings on Hader(Now and future) I think it makes it easier to find the turner money (especially if Rios is gone) I like Rios and Ruiz but their optimal value could very well be this^ for our team. The price was Lux last year which I thought was too much, this tho is a deal id consider, especially considering Rios has some positive buzz on him right now (which could all but dissapear in the Spring)
Not so sure Friedman shares your views enough for you to be speaking what you deem “dumb trades”
You were the same guy that said they wouldnt trade for Mookie as well my friend a year ago! Same logic same schick
Another money and a prayer deal for Friedman.
Think about what the article says. Kelly has an option for 12 M… while Friedman guaranteed about 4M here
Is it really? If he was healthy kahnle’s rate would be significantly higher. Probably double. It’s a value play really
this is a good signing by the dodgers this guy was good with the yankees for a number of years
Wonderful to get 750,000 dollars or more for not working.
I mean, he won’t be pitching MLB games, but he certainly will be rehabbing.
Hey, great signing by the Dodgers….He was a good guy, a workhorse and Kahnle was lights out for quite some time for the Yankees….wish the Yankees had made this move.
This off-season is a analytical general managers dream. There are a bunch of “deals” to be had as money is not going to be flowing like years past. In exclusion of the top tier free agents most others will have to find a home and some will take significantly less money and less years then they would have in years past. I can see a majority of players taking these bet on myself deals of 1-2 years. I am excited to see what other finds are out there for the dodgers FO.
when you’ve got your house in order so much you can sign someone to not play for you for half of their contract and it’s still a good deal. This lines up with Jansen’s contract ending as well. A perfect fitting piece.
Injuries aside, the Dodgers got a pretty damn good reliever.
Wow. Intense. Not Spicolli intense, Dodger nation. But in the you guys just signed one of the most intense guys in the game. Real bundle of energy he is. Like a young puppy
So Kahnle occupies a spot on the 40-man roster until the Dodgers are able to move him to the 60-day IL? And that’s allowed at some point during Spring Training, right?
Yea That sounds correct
The pride of Shaker High School. Go Tommy!
This dude rakes and hits bombs.
Wasn’t there a time when having Tommy John surgery made you less likely to get signed?…not saying guys don’t recover,obviously they do..but now I feel like tommy john surgery is almost a prerequisite to get a contract more than 1 year