The Yankees and Reds reached a quiet agreement on a three-player trade on Friday night, with New York trading former All-Star catcher Jose Trevino to Cincinnati in exchange for veteran reliever Fernando Cruz and minor-league backstop Alex Jackson.
While this trade may not grab headlines, it could prove to be a shrewd move for the Yankees, especially with the potential impact Cruz could have on the team.
1. Devastating splitter
Cruz possesses one of the most effective pitches in baseball – his splitter. Last season, his splitter had the fourth-highest whiff rate among all pitches, with batters struggling to make contact against it. With a batting average of just .116 and a slugging percentage of .149 against his splitter, Cruz’s pitch is a true weapon.
The Yankees may encourage Cruz to increase his splitter usage even further, following the strategy of former Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle who saw success with a high changeup usage rate.
2. Other improvements
Despite Cruz’s impressive strikeout rate, his ERA suffers due to his command issues. By reducing the usage of his cutter, a pitch that has been susceptible to home runs, and focusing on his splitter, Cruz could see improvement in his performance.
3. Controllable asset
Another advantage of acquiring Cruz is his affordability and remaining years of team control. With four seasons left before arbitration eligibility and free agency in 2028, Cruz provides the Yankees with a valuable asset that could pay off in the long run.
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