When Will Red Sox Call Up Tommy Kahnle After Reassigning Him To Minors?
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The Boston Red Sox signed Tommy Kahnle on March 19, and he was pushing to make the opening day roster, but the Red Sox reassigned him to minor league camp on Monday.
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Kahnle is 36 years old and has been pitching in the big leagues since 2014. He is going into his 12th season after spending last year with the Detroit Tigers. He had a 4.43 ERA in 66 regular-season games. He allowed one earned run in 2 1/3 innings of work in the postseason. After signing just last week, he was a long shot to actually make the opening day roster.
Unlike most late signings, Kahnle was ahead of the curve in terms of getting ready. He pitched for Israel in the World Baseball Classic, allowing just one hit and no runs in two innings of work. He pitched in one spring training game and notched one strikeout in one scoreless inning of work.
Kahnle has 436 2/3 big league innings under his belt, and he could be a great weapon out of the bullpen, so when will the Red Sox bring him back to the big league team? Well, according to MassLive's Christopher Smith, the Red Sox may want to get him in the big leagues before May 1. That's when he has an opt-out available.
"He was pushing for an Opening Day roster spot but Boston can be patient with Kahnle because of the opt-out structure in his contract," Smith wrote on Monday. "He cannot opt out before May 1, when he has an upward mobility clause. The upward mobility clause would allow him to sign with another team offering him a spot on their major league roster. He also has a straight opt-out opportunity June 1."
Kahnle will likely be in the big leagues soon, but surely before May 1 if he pitches well between now and then. Alex Cora liked what he saw in Kahnle's one spring training inning.
“I saw a good pitcher the other day throwing 94, 95 (mph) and a good changeup,” Cora said about Kahnle on Monday, per Smith. “So those are big leaguers and he’s done it before.”
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