Reds claim versatile Oswaldo Cabrera from Yankees with eye on 2027

The Cincinnati Reds have made their first roster addition for 2027.

Infielder/outfielder Oswaldo Cabrera, once considered a promising young part of the New York Yankees future, is now part of the Reds future after they claimed him off waivers Friday (Sept. 18) following the Yankees’ surprising decision to designate Cabrera for assignment this week.

“This is a guy we view that can possibly stay here and be on our club next year,” manager Terry Francona said. “The reports on him have been off the charts as far as makeup. He’s played seven positions. We need to see where that goes and what we want to after we talk to him.”

Cabrera, 27, was DFA’d to clear 40-man roster room for pitcher Clarke Schmidt to return to the Yankees roster after rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.

<

After an impressive 44-game debut in 2022 that included 32 starts in the corner outfield spots and 12 at three different infield positions, the popular Cabrera earned the Yankees’ starting left field job out of spring training in 2023 but struggled in a career-high 115 games and hit just .229 with a .612 OPS after 2022.

He spent just three games in the majors this year.

“The reports we got, talking to multiple people, it just seems like we can’t pass this one up,” Francona said, of advocates of Cabrera’s makeup that included former Yankees teammate Jose Trevino. “This kid’s supposed to be a leader-type kid. We’ve heard people raving about this kid. So that’s good.”

From a baseball standpoint, the vision would seem to be a switch-hitting version of ultra-versatile Santiago Espinal, who can fill matchup gaps with the possibility of possibility of getting higher upside out of the low-risk dice roll.

<1 / 11

<2 / 11

<3 / 11

<4 / 11

<5 / 11

<6 / 11

<7 / 11

<8 / 11

<9 / 11

Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the Cincinnati Reds 8-2, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati. The Dodgers clinched the title to the NLS division.

<10 / 11

Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the Cincinnati Reds 8-2, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati. The Dodgers clinched the title to the NLS division.

<11 / 11

Fans cheer as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the Cincinnati Reds 8-2, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati. The Dodgers clinched the title to the NLS division.

Cabrera is expected to join the club over the weekend.

To make room on the 40-man roster for Cabrera, Spencer Steer (wrist) was transferred from the 10-day to 60-day IL.

The Reds will need to make a 26-man roster move when Cabrera is activated.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds claim versatile Oswaldo Cabrera from Yankees with eye on 2027