On December 20, 2024, the New York Yankees traded catcher Jose Trevino to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for right-handed reliever Fernando Cruz and catcher Alex Jackson.

This trade marks a significant transition in the Yankees' catching position, as Trevino had been a key player since joining from the Texas Rangers before the 2022 season.

The Yankees are known for developing relievers, which could enhance Cruz's performance further.

Trevino, who is 32 years old, had a standout first half in 2022, making the All-Star team and winning a Gold Glove, but his 2023 season was marred by injuries, limiting him to just 55 games.

Cruz, now 34, has a career ERA of 4.52 and demonstrated strong strikeout ability with 228 strikeouts in 147 1/3 innings, making him a potentially valuable asset for the Yankees' bullpen.

Cruz is the Yankees' second bullpen acquisition this offseason, following the addition of closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers.

With the Reds, Trevino is expected to serve as the backup to Tyler Stephenson, who had a strong 2024 season, batting .258 with 19 home runs.

Trevino's role diminished significantly in 2024 as rookie Austin Wells took over as the starting catcher, finishing third in American League Rookie of the Year voting.

By the end of the 2024 season, Trevino had a batting line of .215/.288/.354 with eight home runs, serving primarily as a backup.

This trade follows the Yankees' recent acquisition of Cody Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs earlier in the week.

Alex Jackson, the other player acquired in the trade, had a challenging 2024 season with a batting average of .122 and is expected to provide depth behind Wells.

Jackson, who will turn 29 on December 25, has a career OPS of .456 and has played for multiple teams, including the Rays and Brewers.