Yankees sign ex-Astros, Red Sox flamethrower in first semi-real bullpen move in weeks

The New York Yankees' bullpen doesn't get nearly enough attention, amid trade conversations for rotation help and Cody Bellinger's volleying. Ask yourself, though: Who do you trust with a one-run lead? David Bednar. Maybe Fernando Cruz on the right day? Tim Hill, if the opposing lineup is lined up optimally? Otherwise ... cupboard's empty.

The Yankees' latest signing won't help you feel any more comfortable, but at least there's some new blood on the 40-man, and it's a player they have some history with. That means they might believe they can unlock their latest addition, or at least know he's a good listener.

Kaleb Ort, who turns 34 years old in a few weeks, just became the first player to be added to the Yankees' 40-man roster this offseason who fits two key qualifications: he wasn't here last year, and he has previous MLB experience (sorry, Cade Winquest, you only check one box).

Ort was swiped by the Red Sox in the Rule 5 Draft prior to the 2021 season, and pitched three seasons in Boston (and largely unremarkable ones at that).

Yankees reunite with Kaleb Ort after stints with Red Sox, Astros

Ort then went to Houston, another Yankees enemy, and alternated a great 2024 stretch (2.55 ERA in 24 2/3 innings) with a tough 2025 follow-up (4.89 mark, 27 walks in 46 innings) that got him DFA'd. He's got a big fastball that could play up at the top of the zone, but he seems like an atypical Matt Blake addition in a vacuum. They don't usually go for the flamethrowers.

Ort should be a no-harm, no-foul attempt to harness something in the bullpen after months of inactivity. Of course, there's also this angle: the Yankees have guaranteed roster spots to Winquest (who they'll have to return to St. Louis if they demote him), Ort, Paul Blackburn, and Ryan Yarbrough. They probably have to bring Brent Headrick north, too, given the dearth of quality, hard-throwing left-handers in their bullpen.

There's no way all of these people survive to Opening Day if there's also a rotation addition, right?

No big deal. You'll DFA Ort, and render this shuffling moot. But that means the Yankees waited several weeks just to add someone who could be back on the waiver wire before spring training rolls around.

It's tough to pump your fist about Kaleb Ort, but at the very least, the Yankees have gotten back something that was once theirs (albeit someone who's had much less success than Garrett Whitlock, who was stolen from the system in the very same Rule 5).