Before signing key man, the Yankees completed a trade with the Cincinnati Reds involving Rays catcher. About a month earlier, the Reds had signed Jackson to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training. However, Cincinnati chose to shift gears with their catching depth.
Yankees Trade All-Star to Reds for RHP Fernando Cruz and C Alex Jackson
The trade sent 2022 All-Star catcher Jose Trevino to the Reds in exchange for right-handed reliever Fernando Cruz and catcher Alex Jackson. The Yankees’ main target in this deal was Cruz, a split-finger fastball specialist. In 2024, Cruz relied on his splitter 41% of the time, more than any other pitch. With an average fastball velocity of 94 mph, his splitter dropped by 13 mph, featuring elite movement. Pairing Cruz with Devin Williams in the Yankees’ 2025 bullpen promises to be a lethal combination.
Cruz has amassed the fifth-most strikeouts among relievers over the past two seasons, totaling 185.
“Here are some of the UGLIEST swings batters have taken against him.”
— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees), December 21, 2024
Alex Jackson appears to be more of a secondary piece in this trade, especially since the Reds acquired Trevino as their primary catcher. Jackson, a 2014 first-round pick, faces an uphill battle to make the Yankees’ stacked roster out of Spring Training. Rays fans are all too familiar with his struggles, as the 28-year-old had one of the worst offensive seasons in team history.
In 58 games with the Rays in 2024, Jackson slashed an abysmal .122/.201/.237. His .077 batting average against fastballs was particularly troubling. By comparison, Rays catcher Ben Rortvedt hit .209 against fastballs, while AL MVP Aaron Judge crushed them with a .371 average. If the Yankees hope to get any offensive value from Jackson, they will need to overhaul his plate approach significantly.
So why did the Yankees include Jackson in this trade? The answer likely lies in his power potential. While Jackson managed just three home runs in the majors last season, he has shown his power in the minors, with 113 career home runs and the ability to hit to all fields.
“Here’s Alex Jackson homering in Yankee Stadium this season.”
— Dom (@BronxBmbrz), December 21, 2024
Meanwhile, the Reds acquired a reliable backup catcher in Trevino. Although his offensive production has declined since 2022, his defensive skills remain strong, with a 95th percentile framing rate last season. It will be fascinating to see how this trade impacts both teams heading into 2025.
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