Yankees acquire nasty reliever, catcher from Reds for Trevino

It was in a hotel suite during the recent Winter Meetings in Dallas that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman revealed his club has received numerous inquiries about its catching depth, which he considered an area of strength entering the offseason.

Those proposals didn’t necessarily mean the Yankees would complete a trade, Cashman said then, but they might. They reached a deal with the Reds on Friday evening, acquiring power right-hander Fernando Cruz and catcher Alex Jackson in exchange for catcher Jose Trevino.

Cruz, 34, was 3-8 with a 4.86 ERA in 69 appearances (three starts) for Cincinnati last season. With 109 strikeouts in 66 2/3 innings, Cruz’s 14.72 K/9.0 ratio was the Majors’ highest among pitchers with at least 50 innings, and his 37.8% strikeout rate ranked third.

Over three big league seasons with the Reds, Cruz has gone 4-11 with a 4.52 ERA in 141 games (seven starts). Since 2023, his 185 strikeouts as a reliever are fifth most in the Majors, trailing only Bryan Abreu (203), Aroldis Chapman (201), Josh Hader (190) and Tanner Scott (188).

Cruz figures to provide the Yanks with another big arm at the back of the bullpen, acquired just days after the club brought in closer Devin Williams in a swap with the Brewers. Luke Weaver will slot into a setup role, and the club expects Jonathan Loáisiga to return from Tommy John surgery in April or May.

Jackson, 28, batted .122 (17-for-139) with three homers and 12 RBIs in 58 games for the Rays last season, throwing out 11 of 39 attempted base stealers (28.2%). He also played 28 games with Triple-A Durham, where he batted .238 (25-for-105) with eight homers and 20 RBIs.

Over five big league seasons with the Braves (2019-21), Marlins (’21), Brewers (2022) and Rays (’24), Jackson has batted .132 (40-for-302) with six homers and 24 RBIs in 124 games.

Trevino, 32, was a 2022 All-Star and Platinum Glove Award winner with the Yankees, but his playing time dwindled this past season with Austin Wells taking over as the defacto starter behind the plate. In 73 games, Trevino batted .215 (45-for-209) with eight homers and 28 RBIs.

While still regarded as an excellent pitch framer and blocker, Trevino struggled to control the running game, including a nightmarish game at Fenway Park in June when the Red Sox set a Major League record with nine stolen bases. Overall, Trevino caught 13 of 70 potential base stealers (18.6%).