{"id":137162,"date":"2026-01-09T22:21:40","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T22:21:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=137162"},"modified":"2026-01-09T22:21:40","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T22:21:40","slug":"%f0%9f%9a%a8-waiver-shocker-the-new-york-yankees-just-made-a-quiet-but-eyebrow-raising-move-by-claiming-a-former-boston-red-sox-reliever-off-waivers-from-a-fellow-al-rival-what-looked-like-a-routine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=137162","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udea8 WAIVER SHOCKER: The New York Yankees just made a quiet but eyebrow-raising move by claiming a former Boston Red Sox reliever off waivers from a fellow AL rival. What looked like a routine transaction is suddenly sparking deeper questions across the league. Insiders are wondering why this arm was available \u2014 and why New York moved so fast."},"content":{"rendered":"

Former Boston Red Sox<\/span><\/span><\/strong> relief pitcher Kaleb Ort<\/span><\/span><\/strong> is officially headed to the Bronx.<\/p>\n

\"Yankees<\/p>\n

The New York Yankees<\/span><\/span><\/strong> have added another arm to their bullpen depth.<\/p>\n

New York claimed the 33-year-old right-hander off waivers from the Houston Astros<\/span><\/span><\/strong> on Friday.<\/p>\n

The move immediately adds another layer to the long-running rivalry between the Yankees and the Red Sox.<\/p>\n

Even modest roster transactions carry extra weight when they cross those historic lines.<\/p>\n

The news was first reported by 7News Boston reporter Ari Alexander.<\/p>\n

Alexander broke the story via social media.<\/p>\n

\u201cSource: RHP Kaleb Ort has been claimed off waivers by the #Yankees,\u201d Alexander posted on X.<\/p>\n

Not long after that initial report, the Yankees made the move official.<\/p>\n

The organization confirmed the transaction through its verified social media account.<\/p>\n

\u201cEarlier today, the Yankees claimed RHP Kaleb Ort off waivers from the Houston Astros,\u201d the Yankees wrote on X.<\/p>\n

While the move did not generate blockbuster headlines, it fits a familiar Yankees pattern.<\/p>\n

New York has quietly focused on adding experienced, flexible arms to supplement bullpen depth.<\/p>\n

This transaction also continues a subtle trend of former Red Sox players finding their way to the Bronx.<\/p>\n

Friday\u2019s waiver claim comes less than one month after the Yankees signed two other former Boston players.<\/p>\n

Those signings included catcher Ali Sanchez<\/span><\/span><\/strong> and infielder Zack Short<\/span><\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Both Sanchez and Short were added on minor-league deals.<\/p>\n

Together, those moves suggest New York is casting a wide net for depth and versatility.<\/p>\n

Kaleb Ort\u2019s journey through professional baseball has been anything but linear.<\/p>\n

His career path reflects persistence, adaptability, and constant reinvention.<\/p>\n

Ort was originally signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks<\/span><\/span><\/strong> as an amateur free agent in September 2016.<\/p>\n

That opportunity, however, was short-lived.<\/p>\n

The Diamondbacks released Ort just six months later.<\/p>\n

For many players, such an early setback can derail a career entirely.<\/p>\n

Ort chose a different path.<\/p>\n

In May 2017, he signed with the Yankees organization.<\/p>\n

That move marked his first stint within the New York system.<\/p>\n

Although he did not reach the majors with the Yankees at that time, the organization clearly saw something worth developing.<\/p>\n

Ort continued to grind through the minor leagues.<\/p>\n

His career took another unexpected turn in December 2019.<\/p>\n

The Red Sox selected Ort from the Yankees in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft.<\/p>\n

That selection forced Boston to keep him on the major-league roster or offer him back.<\/p>\n

Ort ultimately earned his opportunity.<\/p>\n

He made his MLB debut in September 2021.<\/p>\n

That debut represented the culmination of years of perseverance.<\/p>\n

Ort appeared in just one game during the 2021 season.<\/p>\n

While limited, that appearance kept him on Boston\u2019s radar.<\/p>\n

The following year provided a much larger opportunity.<\/p>\n

In 2022, Ort pitched in 25 games out of Boston\u2019s bullpen.<\/p>\n

That season showcased both his upside and his volatility.<\/p>\n

Ort relied heavily on velocity and movement.<\/p>\n

However, command consistency remained a challenge.<\/p>\n

The Red Sox continued to evaluate his role moving forward.<\/p>\n

During the 2023 season, Ort again bounced between roles.<\/p>\n

He appeared in 21 games for Boston.<\/p>\n

He also made two starts.<\/p>\n

Those starts highlighted Boston\u2019s willingness to experiment with his usage.<\/p>\n

Despite flashes of effectiveness, Ort struggled to establish a permanent role.<\/p>\n

In October 2023, Boston selected Ort off waivers by the Seattle Mariners<\/span><\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

That move marked yet another chapter in his nomadic MLB journey.<\/p>\n

Across his time with the Red Sox, Ort compiled uneven but telling numbers.<\/p>\n

He finished with a 2-4 record.<\/p>\n

He posted a 6.27 ERA.<\/p>\n

His WHIP sat at 1.70.<\/p>\n

He recorded 51 strikeouts in 51\u2154 innings pitched.<\/p>\n

Those numbers reflected both his ability to miss bats and his struggles with traffic on the bases.<\/p>\n

After his stint with Seattle, Ort\u2019s path shifted again in 2024.<\/p>\n

In May of that year, he was selected off waivers by the Astros from the Baltimore Orioles<\/span><\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

That move proved pivotal.<\/p>\n

Houston provided Ort with stability and a clearly defined bullpen role.<\/p>\n

The results were noticeable.<\/p>\n

During the 2024 season, Ort enjoyed the best stretch of his MLB career.<\/p>\n

\"Yankees<\/p>\n

He finished 1-1.<\/p>\n

He posted a sparkling 2.55 ERA.<\/p>\n

His WHIP dropped dramatically to 0.81.<\/p>\n

He struck out 26 batters.<\/p>\n

Those numbers came across 24\u2154 innings in 22 appearances.<\/p>\n

For a pitcher whose career had been defined by inconsistency, this stretch was eye-opening.<\/em><\/p>\n

Ort demonstrated improved command.<\/p>\n

He limited hard contact.<\/p>\n

He became a reliable middle-inning option.<\/p>\n

However, baseball careers are rarely linear.<\/p>\n

The following season brought renewed challenges.<\/p>\n

During the most recent campaign with Houston, Ort pitched in 49 games.<\/p>\n

He logged 46 innings out of the Astros\u2019 bullpen.<\/p>\n

He finished with a 2-2 record.<\/p>\n

His ERA climbed to 4.89.<\/p>\n

His WHIP increased to 1.34.<\/p>\n

He still managed to strike out 49 batters.<\/p>\n

Those numbers painted a familiar picture.<\/p>\n

Ort remained capable of missing bats.<\/p>\n

Yet inconsistency resurfaced.<\/p>\n

Houston ultimately decided to move on.<\/p>\n

That decision opened the door for New York.<\/p>\n

For the Yankees, the claim represents a low-risk depth move.<\/p>\n

Ort brings experience across multiple organizations.<\/p>\n

He understands high-leverage environments.<\/p>\n

He has pitched in playoff chases.<\/p>\n

He has navigated roster uncertainty.<\/p>\n

Those traits often matter just as much as raw numbers in bullpen construction.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Yankees\u2019 bullpen philosophy has increasingly emphasized depth and flexibility.<\/p>\n

Ort fits that mold.<\/p>\n

At 33 years old, he is not viewed as a long-term cornerstone.<\/p>\n

Instead, he represents competition.<\/p>\n

He represents insurance.<\/p>\n

He represents an option.<\/p>\n

His prior experience in the Yankees system also adds familiarity.<\/p>\n

The organization knows his makeup.<\/p>\n

They know his work ethic.<\/p>\n

They know what adjustments may still be possible.<\/p>\n

Perhaps most intriguing is the narrative element.<\/p>\n

Ort now returns to the Yankees after stops with multiple rivals.<\/p>\n

He once left New York via the Rule 5 Draft.<\/p>\n

He now returns through waivers.<\/p>\n

Baseball careers often come full circle.<\/p>\n

For Ort, this opportunity represents another chance.<\/p>\n

Another chance to stick.<\/p>\n

Another chance to carve out a defined role.<\/p>\n

Another chance to contribute to a contender.<\/p>\n

Whether Ort earns meaningful innings remains to be seen.<\/p>\n

Spring competition will be fierce.<\/p>\n

Roster spots will be limited.<\/p>\n

But opportunity, once again, has found Kaleb Ort.<\/p>\n

And this time, it arrives in pinstripes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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