The Yankees will have a new backup catcher entering the 2025 season, as the team announced on Friday that they’ve traded veteran Jose Trevino to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for right-handed reliever Fernando Cruz and catcher Alex Jackson.
Trevino, who joined the Yankees in a deal with the Texas Rangers in April 2022, played 243 total games as the primary backup, slashing .230/.279/.361 with 23 home runs, 21 doubles, and 86 RBI. New York valued his work behind the plate, however, as his framing and fielding helped him earn a 2022 Gold Glove and an All-Star appearance.
The 32-year-old didn’t see much playing time in 2024, as AL Rookie of the Year finalist Austin Wells proved more reliable with the bat and also displayed strong receiving skills. While Trevino’s framing and blocking abilities remained solid, his arm strength became a legitimate concern. He allowed opponents to steal 57 bases on 70 attempts across 544.1 innings, and his 2.07-second pop time was the second-worst mark in the league, according to Statcast.
Trevino was limited to just 73 games this past season, and following a summer stint on the injured list, he appeared in only 14 games between mid-August and the end of the regular season. He also started just two postseason games.
Cruz, who was drafted by the Kansas City Royals back in 2007, has little big league experience. The 34-year-old veteran made his MLB debut with the Reds in 2022, and has posted a 4.52 ERA and 1.269 WHIP across 147.1 total innings with 228 strikeouts.
He went 3-8 with a 4.86 ERA in 69 appearances (three starts) with the Reds in 2024. Among pitchers that tossed at least 50 innings in 2024, his 14.72 K/9 was the highest in the majors and his 37.8 percent strikeout rate ranked third.
As for Jackson, he’s played for four teams since debuting in 2019, and he hit a measly .122 in 58 games with the Tampa Bay Rays last season. Cincinnati signed the 28-year-old to a minor league contract in November.
