The Houston Astros traded Ryan Pressly to the Chicago Cubs in an effort to help their financial flexibility heading into 2025.

However, the Astros are just weeks away from spring training and are short in the bullpen behind All-Star closer Josh Hader. Bryan Abreu is projected to be the main set-up guy, but the bullpen is unclear behind these two.

As a result, the Astros could be a good fit for this $10 million reliever with postseason experience.

CLEVELAND, OHIO – OCTOBER 18: Tommy Kahnle #41 of the New York Yankees throws a pitch in the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians during Game Four of the American League Championship Series at Progressive…


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Tommy Kahnle has spent the last two seasons with the New York Yankees and appeared in 92 games over those two seasons. In 2024, he posted a 2.11 ERA in 42 2/3 innings while posting a 2.66 ERA in 2023 in 40 2/3 innings.

Both seasons saw him produce a strikeout per nine innings rate of 9.5 or higher. While he didn’t qualify based on number of innings, Baseball Savant showed him as one the best relievers with an expected batting average against of .203 while significantly limiting hard contact.

Even though Kahnle will turn 36 years old in August, he’s showing no signs of slowing down as a reliever. Finding someone who strikes out batters at a high rate and then forces weak contact to those who don’t strike out would be a dream come true for the Astros.

Kahnle has postseason experience as well which makes him an even bigger prize for a team like the Astros who are pushing to get back to the World Series.

Signing a reliever for an average of $5 million over two years is certainly feasible. Even if the team sends $3 million to the Cubs to help with Pressly’s contract, the Astros would have $6 million more to use towards signing someone else.

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