DONE DEAL JUST IN: Cincinnati Reds sign another strikeout done deal with Yankees bullpen Despite losing

The Yankees have had a highly active offseason, perhaps even more so than expected. While they missed out on Juan Soto, who signed with the crosstown Mets, general manager Brian Cashman made significant additions, bringing in Max Fried and Devin Williams to bolster the pitching staff, as well as Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt to strengthen the lineup.

Fried adds depth to the rotation, Williams provides a dominant presence as a closer, and Bellinger and Goldschmidt, both former MVPs, bring valuable experience and power, even if they aren’t expected to replicate their peak performances. However, one of the Yankees’ more under-the-radar moves was trading catcher Jose Trevino to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Fernando Cruz and Alex Jackson. While not a blockbuster, this deal could prove mutually beneficial.

Trevino, who lost his starting role to Austin Wells in 2024, will likely see more opportunities with the Reds. Meanwhile, Jackson provides the Yankees with either a backup option for Wells or depth at Triple-A. The key piece for New York, however, is Cruz, a strikeout specialist who could become a valuable bullpen weapon.

Cruz’s journey to the majors has been remarkable. Drafted by the Royals in 2007 out of a Puerto Rican high school, he didn’t debut in MLB until 2022 at age 32, after years in independent and international leagues. Since joining the Reds’ bullpen, he’s shown promise, despite a 2024 season where his 4.86 ERA didn’t immediately stand out. Digging deeper, his advanced metrics reveal his potential: a 3.27 FIP and 2.87 xFIP, with 109 strikeouts over 66.2 innings.

The highlight of Cruz’s arsenal is his devastating splitter, which led to a remarkable 60% whiff rate in 2024. Opponents hit just .097 against the pitch, making it a cornerstone of his success. Though his fastball is average in terms of velocity and run value, his splitter’s movement and deception make him an outlier.

The Yankees’ coaching staff, led by Matt Blake, will aim to refine Cruz’s game. While his performance against right-handed hitters was dominant—holding them to a .181/.270/.292 slash line with a 41.5% strikeout rate—he struggled against lefties, who posted a .264/.371/.519 line with six home runs. Addressing these splits and refining his pitch mix, perhaps by shelving his ineffective cutter in favor of the splitter/four-seam combo, could unlock even more potential.

Despite his age, Cruz has plenty of upside. If he can lower his walk rate and continue to harness his splitter’s effectiveness, he could become a crucial asset for the Yankees’ bullpen. Fans should be excited about this high-risk, high-reward addition, as Cruz brings a unique skill set to New York. His success in 2025 could be a game-changer for the team’s relief corps.