The New York Yankees opened their offseason by signing 26-year-old right-hander Yovanny Cruz, who spent 2025 with the Boston Red Sox’s Double-A affiliate in Portland. Cruz elected free agency on Nov. 6, signed with New York on Nov. 8, and was listed as assigned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The move comes after another season in which the Yankees reached the postseason but fell short of expectations.
- The Yankees signed 26-year-old right-hander Yovanny Cruz, a former Red Sox pitcher who posted a strong 2024 season in Double-A but struggled with walks in 2025.
- Cruz has nine years of minor-league experience, a triple-digit fastball, 288 career strikeouts, and a track record of bouncing back from injuries and lost seasons.
- New York views him as a low-risk depth move, hoping his raw tools can translate into a real bullpen contribution if he improves his control.
Cruz’s Early Career and Organizational Journey
Yovanny Cruz’s professional career began in 2016, when he signed with the Chicago Cubs as a 17-year-old out of the Dominican Republic. His early progress was interrupted by two major setbacks: the canceled 2020 season and a season-ending injury in 2021.
Before signing with the Yankees, Cruz had appeared in 116 minor-league games, producing a 13–13 record, a 3.49 ERA, 30 starts, seven saves, and 288 strikeouts. After leaving the Cubs’ system in 2023, he pitched for the Estrellas Orientales in the Dominican Winter League, then signed with the San Diego Padres and spent 2024 with the San Antonio Missions. He later joined the Red Sox minor-league system and pitched for Double-A Portland.
Cruz’s Performance and Scouting Profile
At Double-A Portland, Cruz made 34 appearances, recorded six saves, and produced a 2–4 record, a 3.03 ERA, and 72 strikeouts in nearly 60 innings. He posted a career-high 10.92 K/9 and allowed 5.16 hits per nine innings, while issuing 44 walks, resulting in a 6.67 BB/9, the highest walk rate of his career.
His pitch arsenal includes a fastball that can reach triple-digit velocity, a high-80s slider, a sweeping curveball, and a low-90s changeup. He retains rookie eligibility and all minor-league options and may continue electing free agency at the end of each season until reaching the major leagues and signing a guaranteed contract.
Cruz even added more to his case by pitching well this winter for Gigantes del Cibao, allowing only one run in his first four outings over 4⅔ innings.
Sportsbook Outlook on the Yankees This Offseason
Cruz’s signing coincides with increased attention on the Yankees within the sports-betting market following their 2025 season. New York advanced past the Boston Red Sox in the wild-card round but was eliminated in four games in the ALDS by the Toronto Blue Jays. With expectations unchanged for 2026, sportsbooks have posted early futures that keep the Yankees near the top of the league.
Across platforms including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, PointsBet, and ESPN BET, the Yankees consistently rank as the second favorite to win the 2026 World Series, behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. Early futures opened with the Yankees between +700 and +750, depending on the book. DraftKings listed the Dodgers at +370 and the Yankees at +750; FanDuel opened Los Angeles at +350 and New York at +700; BetMGM matched the +350 price on the Dodgers and set the Yankees at +750. ESPN BET’s board placed the Yankees at +800, still directly behind Los Angeles.
Odds comparison sites such as OddsChecker, Oddshark, and Oddspedia show similar numbers, generally keeping New York between +750 and +850. These boards position the Yankees as the leading contender in the American League.
Individual futures reflect the same trend. After winning the 2025 American League MVP—with a season that included a .331 average, 53 home runs, and a league-leading 1.144 OPS—Aaron Judge has opened as the favorite for the 2026 AL MVP, typically around +300. During the 2025 season, Judge’s MVP odds moved from early-season plus money into heavy favorite territory as he advanced toward the award.
