Astros Lose Player to Yankees During MLB Free Agency

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Jan 9, 2026 3:26 PM ET

The New York Yankees and Houston Astros rivalry has slowed in recent years, as the two teams have not met in the MLB playoffs since 2022.

Houston has dominated much of the past decade, frequently advancing to the World Series while the Yankees have come up short, spoiling superstar Aaron Judge’s chances of bringing a title back to the Bronx.

New York remains one of baseball’s most historic franchises, and the organization’s goal is clear: make a deep run and capture its first championship since 2009.

The front office has been active in free agency, working to improve around the margins while maintaining payroll flexibility to work toward re-signing Cody Bellinger and bolster the starting rotation.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17)© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

On Friday, the Yankees turned to the waiver wire to address their bullpen at the Astros’ expense.

Earlier this month, Houston signed Japanese sensation Tatsuya Imai to a three-year, $54 million deal, hoping he could serve as a top-end starter.

To clear space for his addition, the Astros designated right-handed reliever Kaleb Ort for assignment.

Houston hoped Ort would pass through waivers and return as a reliable Triple-A bullpen option, but New York spoiled that plan, claiming Ort and adding him to the active roster.

Earlier today, the Yankees claimed RHP Kaleb Ort off waivers from the Houston Astros.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) January 9, 2026

The move comes as no surprise given the Yankees have seen multiple veteran relievers depart in free agency, including Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, making bullpen reinforcements a clear priority heading into 2026.

Ort arrives in New York with experience across multiple organizations. Originally claimed by Houston from the Baltimore Orioles in 2024, he impressed with a 2.55 ERA in 22 outings down the stretch.

In 2025 he shouldered a heavier workload, making a career-high 49 appearances and logging 46 innings, though his ERA rose to 4.89. He has consistently missed bats at an above-average rate, but prolonged wildness and a tendency to allow home runs have limited his ceiling.

Pressed into higher-leverage roles when Houston’s bullpen was hit by injuries, Ort showed resilience before elbow inflammation ended his season prematurely.

For the Yankees, Ort represents a low-risk bullpen addition. His veteran presence adds depth to a reshaped relief corps, reinforcing New York’s commitment to sustaining championship aspirations in 2026.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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