Before finalizing their deal with Paul Goldschmidt, the Yankees made a trade with the Cincinnati Reds, bringing in former Rays catcher Alex Jackson. Jackson had just signed a minor league contract with the Reds a month earlier, which included an invite to Spring Training. However, Cincinnati opted to shift its focus with catcher depth, moving him as part of a trade.
In exchange for Jackson, the Yankees sent 2022 All-Star catcher Jose Trevino to the Reds. The centerpiece of this deal for New York was right-handed reliever Fernando Cruz, a split-finger pitcher who threw his signature pitch 41% of the time in 2024—more than any other pitch. Cruz’s fastball sits at an average velocity of 94 mph, and his splitter drops a substantial 13 mph, making it a devastating offering with elite movement. His addition alongside Devin Williams gives the Yankees a dynamic offspeed duo to anchor their bullpen in 2025.
As for Jackson, he was more of a secondary piece in the trade. While it’s uncertain whether he will make the Yankees’ roster in 2025, his performance in 2024 with the Rays was notably poor. Jackson’s offensive struggles were severe, posting a .122/.201/.237 slash line in 58 games. He hit a dismal .077 against fastballs, a statistic that highlights his major flaws. For comparison, fellow Rays catcher Ben Rortvedt managed a .209 average against fastballs, while AL MVP Aaron Judge hit .371. If Jackson is to contribute to the Yankees, they will need to make significant adjustments to his approach at the plate.
However, there’s a reason the Yankees might see value in Jackson—his power potential. While he hit just three home runs at the major league level last season, he has an impressive 113 career home runs in the minors, showcasing the ability to hit for power across all fields.
For the Reds, acquiring Trevino provides them with a reliable backup catcher. His offense has slipped since his strong 2022 campaign, but his defense remains solid, particularly his pitch framing, where he ranked in the 95th percentile last season. How this trade pans out for both teams in 2025 will be interesting to watch.
