BREAKING NEWS: Cincinnati Reds Claim Oswaldo Cabrera from New York Yankees | MLB Rumors, Highlights

Nick Kirby and Craig Sandlin provide instant reaction to the Cincinnati Reds claiming utility player Oswaldo Cabrera from the New York Yankees.

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Reds claim versatile Oswaldo Cabrera off waivers from Yankees

The Cincinnati Reds added another potential piece for their 2027 roster Friday, claiming versatile infielder and outfielder Oswaldo Cabrera off waivers from the New York Yankees.

Cabrera was designated for assignment Wednesday when New York needed a spot on its 40-man roster for returning pitcher Clarke Schmidt. The 27-year-old switch-hitter had spent his entire professional career with the Yankees after signing with the organization as an international free agent in 2015.

To make room for Cabrera on the 40-man roster, Cincinnati transferred first baseman Spencer Steer to the 60-day injured list. Steer has been sidelined since July 27 with a right wrist sprain and is not expected to return this season.

Cabrera appeared in only three major-league games for New York this season, going hitless in nine at-bats. However, he enjoyed a productive year with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, batting .288 with a .345 on-base percentage and a .444 slugging percentage. He finished with 19 home runs, 69 RBI and 12 stolen bases across 122 games.

That performance represented an encouraging rebound after Cabrera suffered a fractured left ankle during a May 2025 game in Seattle. The injury ended his season and required him to be removed from the field in an ambulance. He returned to game action this year but was unable to reclaim a permanent role on the Yankees’ crowded roster.

Cabrera made his major-league debut in 2022 and immediately earned playing time because of his defensive versatility. He produced a .247/.312/.429 slash line with six home runs in 44 games as a rookie and started six postseason games for the Yankees that October.

His offensive production declined after that promising introduction. Cabrera owns a career .232 batting average, .291 on-base percentage and .344 slugging percentage with 20 home runs and 95 RBI over 305 major-league games.

The Reds are not acquiring Cabrera based solely on his bat, though.

He has appeared at every defensive position other than catcher during his major-league career, including one appearance as a pitcher. Most of his experience has come at third base and in the corner outfield, but he has also played shortstop, second base and first base. That versatility could give manager Terry Francona additional flexibility when constructing Cincinnati’s bench next season.

Cabrera still has a minor-league option remaining for 2027, meaning the Reds can send him to Triple-A Louisville without exposing him to waivers. He is also under team control beyond next season, giving Cincinnati time to determine whether his Triple-A improvement can translate against major-league pitching.

There is no guarantee Cabrera will become a significant contributor. His career numbers show a player who has struggled to reach base consistently and has yet to establish himself offensively in the majors. Still, the combination of defensive flexibility, switch-hitting ability and remaining roster control makes him a reasonable player for the Reds to evaluate.

The best-case outcome would be Cabrera developing into a dependable utility player capable of providing league-average offense while covering several positions. His 19 Triple-A home runs this season suggest there may be more offensive upside than his major-league numbers have shown. Great American Ball Park could also help a player who has demonstrated pull-side power from both sides of the plate.

At minimum, Cabrera gives Cincinnati inexpensive organizational depth entering an offseason in which the club must improve the overall quality of its bench. He can compete for a roster spot during spring training while providing insurance at nearly every position.

Claiming Cabrera will not dramatically change the direction of the Reds, but it is the type of low-risk move a team should make at the end of a disappointing season. Cincinnati now gets an extended look at a versatile 27-year-old who once showed promise in New York and just completed the best offensive season of his professional career.