With the arbitration deadline being over in MLB, that resulted in several players being either DFA’d or claimed off waivers to help teams across the league determine who will be on their 40-man roster headed into the new calendar season. For the Yankees, they avoided arbitration with all of their eligible players, and on Friday, New York made another roster move.
According to the Yankees’ official team X page, New York has claimed former Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros reliever Kaleb Ort off waivers. Houston designated Kaleb Ort for assignment after making the signing of starter Tatsuya Imai official.
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Yankees Claim Kaleb Ort
Kaleb Ort is now a New York Yankee, after spending parts of four seasons with the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros. He’s spent the last two seasons with the Astros and enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2024.
The assumption is that Ort will be extended an invite to Spring Training, and have a chance from there to break camp with the team’s big league club, and potentially have a spot in the Yankees’ bullpen.
In 2024 with Houston, Ort posted a 2.55 ERA over 24.2 innings. That has been by far the best production he has seen at the MLB level. This past season with the Astros, he appeared in 49 games and pitched 46 innings to the tune of a 4.89 ERA.
GettyHOUSTON, TEXAS – AUGUST 26: Kaleb Ort #63 of the Houston Astros pitches during the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Daikin Park on August 26, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
In 122.1 career innings, Kaleb Ort has a flat 5.00 ERA and 126 strikeouts. With the Red Sox, Ort pitched in 47 games and posted an ugly 6.27 ERA over parts of two seasons.
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Yankees Do Not Need to Make Corresponding Move
Usually, moves that involve picking up players off waivers come with a corresponding move, but considering the Yankees have open 40-man roster spots, Ort’s spot is safe for now, but it’s possible he doesn’t last very long on the roster if the Yankees make other pitching signings.
With the Yankees’ slow offseason, the 33-year-old might have a real shot at making the Yankees’ Opening Day bullpen group that includes David Bednar, Camilo Doval, Brent Headrick, Ryan Yarborough, Tim Hill, and Fernando Cruz.
All of the big-time free agent relievers across MLB have already signed, so that’s why there is optimism for Kaleb Ort.
New York has lost their top two options from 2025 in terms of bullpen production in Luke Weaver and Devin Williams, so this move is an attempt for the Yankees to replenish their pitching staff.
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