Former Shaker Pitcher Tommy Kahnle To Test Free Agency
The New York Yankees and former Shaker star Tommy Kahnle might be parting ways. Kahnle chose free agency over outright assignment from the Yankees. The right-handed reliever will test the market instead of being sent to the minors while he rehabs from Tommy John Surgery in August.
The 31-year-old Kahnle was a key piece to the Yankees bullpen and was expected to help pitch the Bronx Bombers deep into the 2020 postseason but instead was forced to miss the majority of the season. Kahnle was lights out in his one inning of work this season against the Washington Nationals but then needed Tommy John surgery and sadly that twenty pitch, three strikeout inning against the then-defending world champions might be the last time we see Kahnle with the Yankees.
Any player with at least five years of major league service has the right to reject being put on an outright assignment which removes the player from the club's 40-man roster and sends them to the minors. Once a player like Tommy Kahnle decides to not accept the outright assignment the club is forced to release them, making the player a free agent.
It remains to be seen if there will be a big market for Kahnle while he rehabs from Tommy John surgery or if teams will wait to see how he recovers. As a Yankee and Kahnle fan, I'm hopeful that once TK is healthy and ready to go the Yankees will be able to add him again but that is a clear longshot. I know I speak for Yankees fans everywhere when I say we appreciate what Kahnle brought to the team and wish him the best wherever he lands... as long as it isn't Boston.