Former Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Kaleb Ort is officially headed to the Bronx.
The New York Yankees have added another arm to their bullpen depth.
New York claimed the 33-year-old right-hander off waivers from the Houston Astros on Friday.
The move immediately adds another layer to the long-running rivalry between the Yankees and the Red Sox.
Even modest roster transactions carry extra weight when they cross those historic lines.
The news was first reported by 7News Boston reporter Ari Alexander.
Alexander broke the story via social media.
“Source: RHP Kaleb Ort has been claimed off waivers by the #Yankees,” Alexander posted on X.
Not long after that initial report, the Yankees made the move official.
The organization confirmed the transaction through its verified social media account.
“Earlier today, the Yankees claimed RHP Kaleb Ort off waivers from the Houston Astros,” the Yankees wrote on X.
While the move did not generate blockbuster headlines, it fits a familiar Yankees pattern.
New York has quietly focused on adding experienced, flexible arms to supplement bullpen depth.
This transaction also continues a subtle trend of former Red Sox players finding their way to the Bronx.
Friday’s waiver claim comes less than one month after the Yankees signed two other former Boston players.
Those signings included catcher Ali Sanchez and infielder Zack Short.
Both Sanchez and Short were added on minor-league deals.
Together, those moves suggest New York is casting a wide net for depth and versatility.
Kaleb Ort’s journey through professional baseball has been anything but linear.
His career path reflects persistence, adaptability, and constant reinvention.
Ort was originally signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks as an amateur free agent in September 2016.
That opportunity, however, was short-lived.
The Diamondbacks released Ort just six months later.
For many players, such an early setback can derail a career entirely.
Ort chose a different path.
In May 2017, he signed with the Yankees organization.
That move marked his first stint within the New York system.
Although he did not reach the majors with the Yankees at that time, the organization clearly saw something worth developing.
Ort continued to grind through the minor leagues.
His career took another unexpected turn in December 2019.
The Red Sox selected Ort from the Yankees in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft.
That selection forced Boston to keep him on the major-league roster or offer him back.
Ort ultimately earned his opportunity.
He made his MLB debut in September 2021.
That debut represented the culmination of years of perseverance.
Ort appeared in just one game during the 2021 season.
While limited, that appearance kept him on Boston’s radar.
The following year provided a much larger opportunity.
In 2022, Ort pitched in 25 games out of Boston’s bullpen.
That season showcased both his upside and his volatility.
Ort relied heavily on velocity and movement.
However, command consistency remained a challenge.
The Red Sox continued to evaluate his role moving forward.
During the 2023 season, Ort again bounced between roles.
He appeared in 21 games for Boston.
He also made two starts.
Those starts highlighted Boston’s willingness to experiment with his usage.
Despite flashes of effectiveness, Ort struggled to establish a permanent role.
In October 2023, Boston selected Ort off waivers by the Seattle Mariners.
That move marked yet another chapter in his nomadic MLB journey.
Across his time with the Red Sox, Ort compiled uneven but telling numbers.
He finished with a 2-4 record.
He posted a 6.27 ERA.
His WHIP sat at 1.70.
He recorded 51 strikeouts in 51â…” innings pitched.
Those numbers reflected both his ability to miss bats and his struggles with traffic on the bases.
After his stint with Seattle, Ort’s path shifted again in 2024.
In May of that year, he was selected off waivers by the Astros from the Baltimore Orioles.
That move proved pivotal.
Houston provided Ort with stability and a clearly defined bullpen role.
The results were noticeable.
During the 2024 season, Ort enjoyed the best stretch of his MLB career.
He finished 1-1.
He posted a sparkling 2.55 ERA.
His WHIP dropped dramatically to 0.81.
He struck out 26 batters.
Those numbers came across 24â…” innings in 22 appearances.
For a pitcher whose career had been defined by inconsistency, this stretch was eye-opening.
Ort demonstrated improved command.
He limited hard contact.
He became a reliable middle-inning option.
However, baseball careers are rarely linear.
The following season brought renewed challenges.
During the most recent campaign with Houston, Ort pitched in 49 games.
He logged 46 innings out of the Astros’ bullpen.
He finished with a 2-2 record.
His ERA climbed to 4.89.
His WHIP increased to 1.34.
He still managed to strike out 49 batters.
Those numbers painted a familiar picture.
Ort remained capable of missing bats.
Yet inconsistency resurfaced.
Houston ultimately decided to move on.
That decision opened the door for New York.
For the Yankees, the claim represents a low-risk depth move.
Ort brings experience across multiple organizations.
He understands high-leverage environments.
He has pitched in playoff chases.
He has navigated roster uncertainty.
Those traits often matter just as much as raw numbers in bullpen construction.
The Yankees’ bullpen philosophy has increasingly emphasized depth and flexibility.
Ort fits that mold.
At 33 years old, he is not viewed as a long-term cornerstone.
Instead, he represents competition.
He represents insurance.
He represents an option.
His prior experience in the Yankees system also adds familiarity.
The organization knows his makeup.
They know his work ethic.
They know what adjustments may still be possible.
Perhaps most intriguing is the narrative element.
Ort now returns to the Yankees after stops with multiple rivals.
He once left New York via the Rule 5 Draft.
He now returns through waivers.
Baseball careers often come full circle.
For Ort, this opportunity represents another chance.
Another chance to stick.
Another chance to carve out a defined role.
Another chance to contribute to a contender.
Whether Ort earns meaningful innings remains to be seen.
Spring competition will be fierce.
Roster spots will be limited.
But opportunity, once again, has found Kaleb Ort.
And this time, it arrives in pinstripes.
