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Around the Empire: Yankees news - 12/24/20

Tommy Kahnle dons Dodger blue; Gleyber Torres aids COVID efforts in Venezuela; Brian Cashman interested in lefty hitters

MLB: ALDS-Cleveland Indians at New York Yankees
Farewell, Tommy Tight Pants.
Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

True Blue LA | Eric Stephen: Another member of the Yankees team that came closer to the World Series than any other squad since 2009 has bid farewell to pinstripes. Reliever Tommy Kahnle, who missed most of 2020 with Tommy John surgery, has signed a two-year contract with the Dodgers. A former Baby Bomber snatched away in the Rule 5 Draft back in 2013, Kahnle rejoined the Yankees midseason in 2017 and sandwiched two excellent seasons around a shaky 2018. He was a valuable member of two playoff bullpens, notching a 2.33 ERA and 0.76 WHIP in 15 postseason games.

The bullpen definitely missed Kahnle’s presence in 2020, and not just because he was a great reliever. (We feel your pain, Zack Britton.) Best of luck to him in L.A.

NJ.com | Brendan Kuty: With an assist from teammate Gio Urshela, Gleyber Torres recently got into the holiday spirit of helping out those in need. Urshela recently worked with the company H2One to ship 36,000 bottles of sanitizer to the coronavirus fight in his native Colombia, so Torres did the same with Venezuela, which is about to pass over 1,000 deaths from the pandemic. The 2020 Thurman Munson Award winner is definitely living up to its name.

NY Daily News | Kristie Ackert: Brian Cashman admitted yesterday that while DJ LeMahieu is obviously his priority, adding another lefty bat would be, in his words, “ideal.” It makes sense; lefty hitters and Yankee Stadium have been a match made in heaven for almost a century. Outside of switch-hitter Aaron Hicks though, the only bats from the left-side on their likely roster right now are Mike Ford, Mike Tauchman, and Tyler Wade — not exactly an inspiring bunch. So... if I was Cashman, I would not only re-sign LeMahieu, but also definitely add a lefty bat. It’s more than just as a luxury.