A veteran right-hander Tommy Kahnlecurrently with the Red Sox’ Triple-A affiliate, has a maximum walkout clause in his contract that he can start tomorrow, writes Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. This clause was reported at the time of Kahnle’s signing in Boston, but it still fits with a setup man who works well in the minors at this point.
If enacted, the upward movement clause would pressure the Sox to make Kahnle available to all 29 clubs. If another club were to add him to their major league roster, the Red Sox would have to select Kahnle from the 40-man roster or, if they didn’t want to, let him go to the organization would be put him in the big league bullpen. Such clauses are common in minor league deals for veteran players.
In the first month of the season, Kahnle did a good job trying to force Boston’s hand. The 36-year-old pitched 8 1/3 innings out of the Worcester bullpen, allowing three earned runs (3.24 ERA) on eight hits and three walks. He struck out eight of the 36 batters he faced (22.2%), didn’t allow a home run and did a good job avoiding too much hard contact (88.3 mph average exit velocity, no barrel, 41.7% hard-hit rate).
Kahnle’s fastball of 92.7 mph would be the lowest of his career, although in the first month of the 2025 season in Detroit, he was not as high (93.1 mph). He averaged 93.6 mph the rest of the way. It seems reasonable to expect Kahnle’s heater to gain a little life as he continues to build this season, but the four-seamer is a second pitch to him anyway; Kahnle is perhaps the best transition specialist in the game. This season’s 59.5% usage rate on his changeup is actually pretty good compared to recent seasons. From 2022-25, Kahnle has thrown 79% changeups against 18.7% fastballs with the occasional slider (2.4%) mixed in to get other hitters out.
Despite coming off an underwhelming season with the Tigers — hence the minor league deal — Kahnle has a long history of success in the majors. He’s been hurt more often than he or the teams have played for him, but from 2016-24, the right-hander posted a combined 3.11 ERA, 31.1% strikeout rate and 10.1% walk rate in 271 2/3 innings between the White Sox, Yankees and Dodgers.
It is unclear whether the Red Sox would agree to include Kahnle in the major league. Helping has been a strength in an otherwise disappointing season for Boston. Sox relievers have compiled a 3.67 ERA that ranks eighth-best in the majors. The only Red Sox reliever to choose from Greg Weissert, Zack Kelly again Tyler Samaniego. Plugging Kahnle into the bullpen would give the Red Sox a sixth reliever who could be sent down without being exposed to waivers.
The decision will rest with the baseball executive Craig Breslowbut a temporary captain Chad Tracy – who managed Kahnle for a few weeks before the start of the season – agreed with the idea. Asked by Smith yesterday if Kahnle could help the big league club, Tracy replied:
“For veterans of his level who have been there, yes, he can help. He has been in the big team for a long time. He knows how to play. He was here, he was included in the play-offs. So he can help a lot.”
If not the Red Sox, there seems to be a good chance that Kahnle could attract another club. Each of the Nationals, Cardinals, Twins, Royals, Angels and Astros has a combined ERA of 5.00 or worse from their bullpen so far in 2026. The Phillies, Astros, Cubs and Marlins all have closers on the injured list. In Chicago Daniel Palencia she is expected to return soon, but she is one of six baby carriers on the shelf.
