THE New York Yankees added a batting reliever to their bullpen, acquiring Fernando Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for a receiver Jose Trevino Friday.
Cruz, 34, struck out 109 batters in 66 2/3 innings with a 4.86 ERA in 69 appearances. His strikeout total ranked fourth among MLB relievers last season. Luke Weaver led Yankees relievers with 103 strikeouts in 2024.
In three seasons with Cincinnati, Cruz averaged 13.9 strikeouts per nine innings with a 4.52 ERA in 141 appearances.
With their trade last week for Devin Williamsthe Yankees added two impact weapons to their relief corps. Williams notched 14 saves in 22 appearances with 38 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings after missing the first three months of the season with a stress fracture in the back.
Trevino, 31, played 73 games for the Yankees as Austin Wells’ backup. He hit .215 with a .642 OPS, eight home runs and 28 RBIs. As reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passanthe Reds were looking for a veteran catcher to work with their young pitching staff as well as the starter Tyler Stephenson.
The trade ends Trevino’s three-season stint with the Yankees. He was an All-Star and Gold Glove winner in 2022, hitting .248 with a .671 OPS, 12 doubles, 11 home runs and 43 RBIs in 353 plate appearances (115 games). He also threw out a league-high 33% (15 of 45) of opposing baserunners.
In seven seasons in MLB (his first four with the Texas Rangers), Trevino compiled a .239 average and a .637 OPS while rejecting 23% of base-stealing attempts.
Also going to the Yankees is a catcher Alex Jacksonwho could take the role of Trevino’s replacement. Jackson, 28, just signed a minor league contract with the Reds as a free agent in November. With the Tampa Bay Rays last season he hit. 122 with a .439 OPS in a career-high 155 plate appearances.
