The Yankees’ bullpen has been a disaster waiting to happen, and they finally made a move. The Bronx Bombers just claimed 33-year-old flamethrower Kaleb Ort off waivers from Houston, and this under-the-radar pickup might be the steal of the offseason.
If you’re a Yankees fan tired of watching blown saves, this one’s for you.
What Just Happened?
The Yankees officially announced they’ve claimed right-hander Kaleb Ort from the Astros after Houston designated him for assignment earlier this week. The Astros needed to clear a 40-man roster spot for Japanese star Tatsuya Imai, and New York pounced on the opportunity.
Here’s the kicker—the Yankees had multiple open roster spots, so they didn’t need to make any corresponding moves. Zero risk, potential reward. That’s the kind of smart depth play contending teams make.
Who Is Kaleb Ort Anyway?
Ort signed with the Yankees in May 2017 and was later selected by Boston in the minor-league phase of the 2020 Rule 5 Draft. He bounced through several organizations (Boston, Seattle, Miami, Philadelphia, Baltimore) before carving out a role with Houston. Listed at 6′4″, Ort averages roughly ~96.0 mph on his four-seam fastball (touching the upper-90s at times) and mixes a slider and changeup alongside occasional cutter/sinker usage — his arsenal and usage have varied by season.
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The Numbers That Matter
Here’s where it gets interesting. In 2024, Ort was lights-out for Houston with a 2.55 ERA across 22 appearances. He dominated right-handed hitters, holding them to a measly .188 batting average. But 2025 was a different story—his ERA jumped to 4.89 over 49 games and 46 innings.
The problem? Control issues. His walk rate ballooned to nearly 14%, and he missed the final two months with elbow inflammation. But here’s the thing—he still struck out 49 batters and showed flashes of that 2024 dominance.
Why This Move Makes Sense
The Yankees lost Devin Williams (signed a three-year deal with the Mets) and Luke Weaver (signed a two-year deal with the Mets) this offseason; New York’s late-inning mix now includes David Bednar (who has been the team’s primary late-inning/closing option since his trade) and Camilo Doval as a key late-inning/setup arm. Ort, if healthy, would be depth — an inexpensive swing option who could help the middle/late innings if he regains command.
What’s Next?
Spring training is everything. Watch for reports on Ort’s velocity and whether that elbow inflammation is behind him. If he’s throwing clean innings in Florida without pain, the Yankees might have found their dark-horse bullpen contributor.
The best part? There’s literally no downside. If Ort doesn’t pan out, they’ll simply move on. But if he clicks? The Yankees just solved a bullpen problem without spending a dime.
Sometimes the biggest wins come from the smallest transactions. Keep your eye on Kaleb Ort this spring—he might just surprise everyone.
Vikas Tiwari, writer and editor focused on Yankees news, rumors, trade updates, and game coverage, emphasizing accuracy, sourcing, and clarity.
