Earlier today, the Yankees claimed RHP Kaleb Ort off waivers from the Houston Astros.
Ort, 33, made 49 relief appearances with the Astros in 2025, going 2-2 with one save and a 4.89 ERA (46.0IP, 35H, 26R/25ER, 27BB, 49K, 8HR). He posted career highs in appearances, innings pitched and strikeouts. Ort allowed only three of his 19 inherited runners to score, posting a 15.8% inherited runners scored percentage. He also limited right-handed batters to a .188/.311/.317 (19-for-101) slash line. Ort was designated for assignment by Houston on January 2, 2026.
Over parts of five Major League seasons with the Boston Red Sox (2021-23) and Houston (2024-25), Ort has gone 5-7 with two saves and a 5.00 ERA (122.1IP, 114H, 75R/68ER, 56BB, 126K, 25HR) in 118 games (two starts). The Grand Rapids, Mich., native was originally signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks as a non-drafted free agent on September 23, 2016. He was released by Arizona on March 21, 2017, and was signed by the Yankees to a minor league contract on May 16, 2017. Ort was selected by Boston in Round 2 of the Triple-A Phase of the 2020 Rule 5 Draft. He was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners on October 13, 2023, the Miami Marlins on December 1, 2023 and the Philadelphia Phillies on February 13, 2024. Ort was acquired by the Baltimore Orioles from Philadelphia in exchange for cash considerations on February 19, 2024. He was then claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros on May 28, 2024.