Trevino, who impressed early in his Yankees tenure, struggled in the latter half of 2023 due to persistent wrist injuries that ultimately derailed his season. Despite returning in 2024, he relinquished the starting catcher role to Austin Wells, whose breakout performance earned him third place in the AL Rookie of the Year voting.
Fernando Cruz, the centerpiece of this trade, brings a much-needed strikeout punch to the Yankees’ bullpen, which lacked consistency in overpowering hitters last season. In 2023, Cruz posted a 3-8 record with a 4.86 ERA over 69 appearances for the Reds. However, his underlying metrics highlight his potential: Cruz racked up 109 strikeouts against 36 walks in just 66 ²/₃ innings. His splitter, used in over 40% of his pitches, held batters to a paltry .116 average, making it a devastating weapon. Cruz complements his arsenal with a four-seam fastball and a cutter.
Alex Jackson, a 28-year-old journeyman, is a defensively reliable catcher but has struggled offensively throughout his career. He hit just .122 with three home runs in 58 games with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2023. Signed by the Reds to a minor league deal prior to this trade, Jackson will likely provide depth behind the plate for the Yankees.
While Jackson adds a steady glove, Cruz is clearly the standout in this deal, offering the Yankees a potent arm capable of transforming their bullpen into a strikeout machine.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for commenting on Bleeding Yankee Blue.
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.