In a surprising move at the winter meetings, the New York Yankees have traded All-Star catcher Jose Trevino to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for right-handed reliever Fernando Cruz and catcher Alex Jackson. The deal marks the end of Trevino’s brief but impactful tenure in pinstripes and paves the way for rookie sensation Austin Wells to take over as the Yankees’ primary backstop moving forward.
Trevino’s Meteoric Rise and Fall in New York
Acquired from the Texas Rangers prior to the 2022 season, Jose Trevino quickly established himself as a fan favorite in the Bronx. The 32-year-old made his first All-Star team that summer, swatting 11 home runs and posting a respectable .671 OPS while providing Gold Glove-caliber defense behind the dish.
However, injuries limited Trevino to just 55 games in 2023, opening the door for rookie Austin Wells to seize the starting job. Trevino returned in a backup role this past season, hitting .215 with 8 homers in 73 contests. With Wells entrenched as the catcher of the future and Trevino set to hit free agency after 2025, the writing was on the wall for a changing of the guard.
Reds Bolster Bullpen, Catching Depth
In Fernando Cruz, the Yankees add a high-upside arm to their relief corps. The 34-year-old made his MLB debut in 2022 and has posted a 4.52 ERA with 141 strikeouts over 109 innings since. He won’t reach arbitration until 2026, giving New York several years of affordable bullpen depth.
Alex Jackson, meanwhile, profiles as a backup catcher with power potential. The former top prospect has struggled to find his footing in the majors, hitting just .132 with 6 homers in 124 career games. But at age 28, there’s still a glimmer of hope he can carve out a role as Wells’ understudy.
We’re excited to add two talented players in Fernando and Alex who can help us win now and in the future. At the same time, we’ll miss everything Jose brought to this team, on and off the field. We thank him for his contributions and wish him all the best in Cincinnati.
– Yankees GM Brian Cashman
Looking Ahead: The Austin Wells Era Begins
For Yankees fans, the real headline is the official passing of the torch to Austin Wells. The 25-year-old rookie slashed .229/.320/.398 with 13 home runs in 115 games this season, finishing third in American League Rookie of the Year voting. With Trevino out of the picture, Wells now has a clear path to the everyday job for years to come.
- Elite pitch framing metrics – Wells ranked top 5 in framing runs
- Patient approach – 12.7% walk rate, 4th among rookies
- Powerful swing – 44.8% hard hit rate, 90th percentile
The future looks bright for the young backstop, who will now get the chance to grow alongside a dangerous Yankees lineup featuring Aaron Judge, Anthony Volpe, and Jasson Dominguez. If Wells can take the next step offensively while maintaining his stellar glove work, watch out.
Final Thoughts
Trading a fan favorite and clubhouse leader is never easy, especially when his successor has just 115 MLB games under his belt. But the Yankees are betting on Wells’ sky-high potential while adding two intriguing pieces in Cruz and Jackson. While it may sting now, this deal could pay dividends for years to come if Austin Wells develops into the All-Star catcher the Yankees believe he can become.
