The New York Yankees acquired right-handed reliever Fernando Cruz and catcher Alex Jackson from the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night in exchange for catcher Jose Trevino. Both Cruz and Jackson will give the Yankees some extra depth at their respective positions going into 2025. Cruz, 34, has experience in high-leverage situations out of the bullpen, but his numbers in two full seasons in Cincy haven't been very impressive. He has a 4.88 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 207 strikeouts and 63 walks in 132 2/3 innings pitched. However, Cruz also had 23 holds in 2024 and could rack up some holds as more of a middle-relief option in pinstripes next year. Jackson, 28, will be competing with J.C. Escarra and Jesus Rodriguez in spring training to be the backup to Austin Wells in 2025. The former first-rounder in 2014 hit just .122 with three homers and 12 RBI in 58 games with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2024.

Free-agent catcher Alex Jackson signed a minor-league deal with the Cincinnati Reds over the weekend. Jackson played in a career-high 58 games with the Tampa Bay Rays this past season but continued to struggle offensively, slashing .122/.201/.27 with a career-high-tying three home runs, 12 RBI, one stolen base and 17 runs scored in 155 plate appearances in his fifth big-league season. The 28-year-old backstop hit .238/.322/.533 with eight home runs and 20 RBI in 28 games with Triple-A Durham. As a career .132/.224/.232 hitter in his five major-league seasons, Jackson merely represents catching depth for the Reds and will likely be sent to Triple-A Louisville to start the 2025 season if he's still on the roster following spring training.

The catcher carousel continues in the lead-up to Opening Day 2022. The Milwaukee Brewers have acquired catcher Alex Jackson in a trade with the Miami Marlins. In exchange, the Marlins are receiving a pair of prospects, shortstop Hayden Cantrelle and pitcher Alexis Ramirez. This trade was made just a few hours after the Brewers acquired another catcher, Victor Caratini, from the San Diego Padres. Both acquisitions follow Tuesday's announcement that Pedro Severino would serve an 80-game suspension for PED violations to start the year. Jackson has played in 61 major league games over the past three years and has slashed just .132/.243/.225. He will likely be the backup to the team's new backup, Caratini, while Omar Narvaez will be the primary catcher for the club.

Miami Marlins rookie catcher Alex Jackson hit the first home run of his major league career in Tuesday's win over the New York Mets. Jackson went 1-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, all on his second inning solo shot. He also struck out twice, and finished the game with a .065 batting average and .356 OPS. He's had a rough start to his career and still has tons of swing and miss in his bat, but the Marlins will likely give him plenty of playing time for the rest of the season (they put former starting catcher Jorge Alfaro in left field on Tuesday so that Jackson could be behind the plate). Jackson is a high-upside, zero-floor catcher that could be a decent last guy on a dynasty bench.

Miami Marlins catcher Alex Jackson got his first start as a Marlin on Monday against the New York Mets. Jackson was acquired from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Adam Duvall before the trade deadline. Jackson has posted solid numbers in the minor leagues throughout his career, but it has yet to transfer even slightly into major league success. He went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in his Marlins debut, and is now hitting an almost unbelievable .037 for the season. His career batting average isn't much prettier: .070. There's clearly upside in Jackson's bat, as he has a 70 raw power ranking, but he's going to need to start making contact soon or that raw power isn't going to matter. With the Marlins inching closer to the first overall pick than a playoff spot, Jackson should see plenty of playing time for the last two months of the season.

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves’ flurry of trade-deadline moves on Friday highlighted how fortunate they are to be in the NL East, where any team close to .500 is still relevant. Though the Braves entered the day one game under .500, they were only four games behind the first-place New York Mets. Emboldened by the standings, general manager Alex Anthopoulos acquired outfielders Adam Duvall, Jorge Soler and Eddie Rosario and reliever Richard Rodriguez in an attempt to position Atlanta for a run at its fourth consecutive division title. The moves were notable for a team that has not been above .500 all season. “There’s no doubt we’ve had our challenges,” Anthopoulos said. “The one thing that’s fortunate for us is we’re playing in the NL East in 2021. We’re all in it.” The Mets, second-place Phillies and Braves are still in the race. The Nationals and Marlins bowed out, moving veterans for prospects at the trade deadline. “From our standpoint, when talent leaves the NL East, we’re certainly... [More]

Miami Marlins catcher Alex Jackson, acquired in the Adam Duvall trade with the Atlanta Braves, will be added to the Marlins active roster, according to general manager Kim Ng. Jackson has been having a great season at the plate in Triple-A, slashing .287/.366/.694 in 123 plate appearances. He's yet to have it translate to any big league success though, as he'll start his Marlins career with an MLB batting line of .070/.200/.093 in 50 plate appearances. He figures to split time behind the plate with Jorge Alfaro, although the Marlins may lean on Jackson a bit more to see what they have in their new 25-year-old backstop.

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves bolstered their depleted outfield on Friday by acquiring Adam Duvall from the Miami Marlins for catcher Alex Jackson. The 32-year-old Duvall is returning to Atlanta, where he played the last three seasons. He hit .229 and ranks among the top 10 in the National League with 22 home runs and 68 RBIs in 90 games for Miami this season. The Braves also acquired outfielder Eddie Rosario and cash from Cleveland for infielder Pablo Sandoval on Friday. On July 15, Atlanta landed outfielder Joc Pederson in a trade that sent first baseman Bryce Ball to the Chicago Cubs. The Braves needed to revamp their outfield as they attempt to remain in the hunt for a fourth consecutive NL East title. Atlanta suffered a severe blow to its playoff hopes when it lost Ronald Acuña Jr. to a season-ending knee injury on July 10. Braves left fielder Marcell Ozuna, who was on the injured list, is facing domestic violence charges following an arrest at his home in May. He has not played since. The Braves first acquired Duvall at the 2018 trade deadline. He was an All-Star with the Reds in 2016, when he set career highs with 33 homers and 103 RBIs. Jackson, 25, has three hits in 43 at-bats (.070) in 19 games with Atlanta the last three seasons. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at what's happening around the majors on Sunday: ___ DODGEBALL Albert Pujols didn’t have to travel far to find a new opportunity -- released by the Angels, the 41-year-old slugger has reached a deal up the freeway with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pujols is expected to finalize the agreement Monday. The oldest player in the majors batted .198 this season with five homers and 12 RBIs for the Angels. The three-time NL MVP is fifth in major league history with 667 career homers and 13th with 3,253 hits. Pujols left Anaheim hoping to play every day for another team, but that might be tough with the World Series champions. The Dodgers have veteran Max Muncy as their regular first baseman and also former NL MVP Cody Bellinger, who’s been out with a leg injury. The Dodgers, however, have not hit well against left-handed pitching and hope the righty-swinging Pujols can provide some pop. Pujols is making $30 million this year, and the Dodgers will pay him only the pro-rated portion of the major... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have signed catcher Tyler Flowers to a minor league deal. The 35-year-od Flowers spent the past five seasons with the Braves, but wasn't re-signed after hitting .217 with one homer and five RBIs in 2020 backing up Travis d'Arnaud. But Atlanta needs catching depth after d'Arnaud went on the 60-day disabled list last weekend with a left thumb injury. He was hurt applying a tag at the plate in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays and underwent ligament surgery Monday. With d'Arnaud out for an extended period and Alex Jackson also on the DL with a strained hamstring (and likely headed back to the minors after managing just one hit in 23 at-bats this season), the Braves have turned to touted rookie William Contreras to handle the bulk of the catching duties. Thirty-eight-year-old Jeff Mathis was called up with Contreras, but Flowers might be a better option. He provided solid production while sharing the catching job in Atlanta for several seasons, hitting 12 homers with 49 RBIs in 2017 and adding an 11-homer campaign in 2019. Flowers, who hasn't played this season, will likely work his way into shape at the Braves' Triple-A team in suburban Gwinnett before moving to Atlanta to work with Contreras. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — The Atlanta Braves put catchers Travis d’Arnaud and Alex Jackson on the injured list Sunday. D’Arnaud was placed on the 60-day IL with a torn ligament in his left thumb after getting hurt on a tag play at the plate in the sixth inning of Saturday night's game against Toronto. Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said after the Braves lost 7-2 to Toronto that d’Arnaud is being set for surgery sometime in the next few days. Snitker expects d’Arnaud to return before the season ends. Jackson, who replaced d’Arnaud in the game, went on the 10-day IL with a strained left hamstring. Catcher William Contreras was recalled from the Braves' alternate site and started Sunday against the Blue Jays. Catcher Jeff Mathis had his contract purchased from alternate site. D’Arnaud has a .220 batting average with two homers and 11 RBIs in 23 games. Jackson was 1 for 23 (.043) in 10 games. Contreras, 23, made his major league debut last season, going 4 for 10 in four games. He was the 27th man for Atlanta's doubleheader on April 25 against Arizona. Mathis, 38, spent the previous two seasons with Texas. The 16-year veteran known for his defense has a career .194 batting average in 945 games. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — The Atlanta Braves put catchers Travis d’Arnaud and Alex Jackson on the injured list Sunday. D’Arnaud was placed on the 60-day IL with a left thumb sprain after getting hurt on a tag play at the plate in the sixth inning of Saturday night's game against Toronto. Jackson, who replaced d’Arnaud in the game, went on the 10-day IL with a strained left hamstring. Catcher William Contreras was recalled from the Braves' alternate site and started Sunday against the Blue Jays. Catcher Jeff Mathis had his contract purchased from alternate site. D’Arnaud has a .220 batting average with two homers and 11 RBIs in 23 games. Jackson was 1 for 23 (.043) in 10 games. Contreras, 23, made his major league debut last season, going 4 for 10 in four games. He was the 27th man for Atlanta's doubleheader on April 25 against Arizona. Mathis, 38, spent the previous two seasons with Texas. The 16-year veteran known for his defense has a career .194 batting average in 945 games. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

.ATLANTA (AP) — Kung Fu Panda has made the opening day roster for the Atlanta Braves. The team made a flurry of moves Saturday to complete its 26-man group, most notably promoting nonroster infielder Pablo Sandoval to the big league roster. The 34-year-old Sandoval is a two-time All-Star and 2012 World Series MVP looking to revive his career in a bench role with the Braves. The portly switch-hitter earned his spot with a strong spring, hitting .429 with four RBIs in 35 at-bats. “Pablo speaks for himself, just the way he comes in, his professionalism, what he adds in clubhouse, the presence has, the respect he has from everybody,” manager Brian Snitker said. “And he can still hit. He's kind of what you're looking for. He’s a guy who can sit around and stay ready.” The Braves, who open the season Thursday at Philadelphia, also selected the contracts of two other nonroster players: infielder Ehire Adrianza and reliever Nate Jones. Former All-Stars Jake Lamb and Jason Kipnis were released,... [More]

Atlanta manager Brian Snitker expects to approach key pinch-hit situations with renewed confidence this season as he looks at the Braves' newly bolstered bench. More depth was added on Tuesday when the Braves finalized a $1 million, one-year contract with third baseman Jake Lamb that is not guaranteed. The signing adds another veteran bat to an already deep competition for bench spots in spring training. Lamb, a 2017 All-Star with the Arizona Diamondbacks, was with the Braves for their first full-squad workout and will compete for a bench spot. He could provide insurance for Austin Riley, who is expected to start at third base, but he was signed for his left-handed bat as a pinch-hitter. Snitker hopes Lamb can produce off the bench the way Matt Joyce in 2019 and Eric Hinske from 2010-12 were effective with their left-handed swings. “You get late in a game and you need a double-switch, he can be a very valuable asset much like Matt Joyce did a couple years ago,” Snitker said Tuesday. “He... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National League East entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad: ___ Atlanta Braves Manager: Brian Snitker (sixth season). 2020: 35-25, first place, lost to Dodgers in NL Championship Series. Training Town: North Port, Florida. Park: CoolToday Park. First Workout: Feb. 18/23. He’s Here: RHP Charlie Morton, LHP Drew Smyly, RHP Carl Edwards, SS Ehire Adrianza, RHP Victor Arano. He’s Outta Here: OF Nick Markakis, OF Adam Duvall, INF Charlie Culberson, RHP Mike Foltynewicz, RHP Mark Melancon, C Tyler Flowers, RHP Shane Greene, RHP Darren O’Day, RHP Jhoulys Chacin, INF Adeiny Hechavarria, LHP Cole Hamels. Going campin’: The key offseason move was re-signing left fielder Marcell Ozuna to a four-year, $65 million deal. Morton and Smyly add experience to the rotation. The team can take a cautious approach with 2020 opening day starter Mike Soroka’s return from... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves called up top prospect Ian Anderson to make his big league debut Tuesday night against Gerrit Cole and the New York Yankees. The Braves added the 22-year-old right-hander in hopes of bolstering a rotation that has struggled to find any consistency beyond top starter Max Fried.The third overall pick in the 2016 draft, the anticipation for Anderson's arrival in Atlanta grew as he made a rapid rise through the farm system. “He's a kid who's confident in his abilities," manager Brian Snitker said. "He's been throwing really well at the alternate site. He's excited. Hopefully this is the beginning of a long big league career for this young man.”Anderson started the 2019 season at Double-A Mississippi, where he went 7-5 with a 2.68 ERA in 21 starts. He had 147 strikeouts in 111 innings.Moving up to Triple-A Gwinnett late last season, Anderson struggled a bit in five starts. He went 1-2 with a 6.57 ERA, surrendering five homers in 24 2/3 innings.Snitker's advice... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves called up top prospect Ian Anderson to make his big league debut Tuesday night against Gerrit Cole and the New York Yankees. The Braves added the 22-year-old right-hander in hopes of bolstering a rotation that has struggled to find any consistency beyond top starter Max Fried.The third overall pick in the 2016 draft, the anticipation for Anderson's arrival in Atlanta grew as he made a rapid rise in the farm system. He started the 2019 season at Double-A Mississippi, where he went 7-5 with a 2.68 ERA in 21 starts. He had 147 strikeouts in 111 innings.Moving up to Triple-A Gwinnett late last season, Anderson struggled a bit in five starts. He went 1-2 with a 6.57 ERA, surrendering five homers in 24 2/3 innings.The plan was for Anderson to spend most of this season at Gwinnett, but the coronavirus pandemic shut down the minor leagues. So he's been working at the Braves' alternate training site, awaiting his chance.Even though the Braves are leading the NL... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Mike Trout drove in three early runs, then made a key catch late as the Los Angeles Angels beat Oakland 4-3 Saturday to snap the Athletics’ nine-game home winning streak.The three-time MVP made a diving catch on Matt Olson’s sinking liner to center field to start the eighth inning, which had Angels reliever Ty Buttrey clapping his glove in gratitude. Buttrey got six outs for his second save.Anthony Rendon extended his hitting streak to 12 games for the Angels, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Matt Andriese (1-1) relieved Griffin Canning in the fifth and pitched 2 1/3 innings for his first win with Los Angeles.Matt Chapman homered for AL West-leading Oakland. Chris Bassitt (2-1) permitted four runs, two earned, and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.DODGERS 4, ROCKIES 3LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cody Bellinger’s home run leading off the ninth inning gave Los Angeles a win over slumping Colorado.Bellinger drove a slider from Daniel Bard (1-2) just over the glove of Rockies right... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Mike Trout drove in three early runs, then made a key catch late as the Los Angeles Angels beat Oakland 4-3 Saturday to snap the Athletics’ nine-game home winning streak.The three-time MVP made a diving catch on Matt Olson’s sinking liner to center field to start the eighth inning, which had Angels reliever Ty Buttrey clapping his glove in gratitude. Buttrey got six outs for his second save.Anthony Rendon extended his hitting streak to 12 games for the Angels, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Matt Andriese (1-1) relieved Griffin Canning in the fifth and pitched 2 1/3 innings for his first win with Los Angeles.Matt Chapman homered for AL West-leading Oakland. Chris Bassitt (2-1) permitted four runs, two earned, and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.RAYS 2, BLUE JAYS 1, 10 INNINGSST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Pinch hitter Kevin Kiermaier singled in the 10th inning, and Tampa Bay ended Toronto’s six-game winning streak.Both teams scored a run in the fifth and it stayed 1-all... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Mike Trout drove in three early runs, then made a key catch late as the Los Angeles Angels beat Oakland 4-3 Saturday to snap the Athletics’ nine-game home winning streak.The three-time MVP made a diving catch on Matt Olson’s sinking liner to center field to start the eighth inning, which had Angels reliever Ty Buttrey clapping his glove in gratitude. Buttrey got six outs for his second save.Anthony Rendon extended his hitting streak to 12 games for the Angels, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Matt Andriese (1-1) relieved Griffin Canning in the fifth and pitched 2 1/3 innings for his first win with Los Angeles.Matt Chapman homered for AL West-leading Oakland. Chris Bassitt (2-1) permitted four runs, two earned, and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.RAYS 2, BLUE JAYS 1, 10 INNINGSST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Pinch hitter Kevin Kiermaier singled in the 10th inning, and Tampa Bay ended Toronto’s six-game winning streak.Both teams scored a run in the fifth and it stayed 1-all... [More]