CINCINNATI — The Reds have their backup to Tyler Stephenson.
The Reds acquired catcher Jose Trevino from the New York Yankees in exchange for right-hander Fernando Cruz and minor league catcher Alex Jackson, President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall announced in a trade on Friday night.
Trevino, 32, was an American League All-Star and a Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner in 2022. He received the Platinum Glove Award that year as the best defensive player in the American League.
A veteran of seven Major League seasons with the Yankees and Rangers, Trevino owns a .992 fielding percentage in 389 career games behind the plate. His 3.34 catcher’s ERA since 2022 is the best among all Major League backstops with at least 1500.0 innings during that span.
Trevino has appeared in 11 career Postseason games, including two appearances for New York in the 2024 World Series. The move presumably ensures that former backup Luke Maile will not be with the Reds this spring, at least not to start spring training in February. Maile is currently a free agent and not signed with any Major League organization.
The 34-year-old Cruz made 141 appearances for the Reds from 2022-24, including seven starts. His 66 relief appearances in 2024 led all Cincinnati pitchers while his 95 strikeouts as a reliever, good for third in the National League.
In Jackson, a former first-round pick of Seattle in 2014, the Yankees get a younger option behind the plate, as he turns 29 on Christmas Day. Jackson signed a minor league contract with the Reds on November 5. Jackson appeared in 124 Major League games over five seasons with the Braves, Marlins, Brewers, and Rays.
