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Yankees Trade Caleb Ferguson To Astros

By Anthony Franco | July 30, 2024 at 3:17pm CDT

The Astros have acquired lefty reliever Caleb Ferguson from the Yankees in exchange for minor league pitcher Kelly Austin and international signing bonus space, according to an announcement by New York. Houston is reportedly sending $750K in bonus room.

New York acquired Ferguson from the Dodgers over the offseason. He has had a difficult season, pitching to a 5.13 ERA over 42 appearances. That’s in part because of poor sequencing, as he has only stranded 62.2% of baserunners. Yet Ferguson has also been somewhat homer prone and is issuing walks at an elevated 10.3% clip.

Ferguson is still missing a decent number of bats. He’s striking out 26.5% of opponents behind an 11.5% swinging strike rate. Those are each in line with his career marks, although his 93.7 MPH average fastball speed is a bit below the 95-96 MPH range he’d posted over the previous two seasons.

Over parts of five seasons with the Dodgers before last winter’s trade, Ferguson turned in a 3.43 earned run average. He had an identical mark across 60 1/3 frames last season. Ferguson doesn’t have much in the way of a platoon split for his career, so he’s not an ideal fit as a situational specialist, but he’s only a year removed from being a solid overall middle reliever.

The Astros have been light on left-handed relief for the past few seasons. They signed Josh Hader to a five-year contract last winter, but he’s obviously holding down the ninth inning. Houston hasn’t had much in the way of a middle innings option for manager Joe Espada, though that generally hasn’t been a priority for their front office. Aside from Hader, only rookie Bryan King and Parker Mushinski have logged any action out of the bullpen as southpaws.

New York is similarly light on left-handed bullpen options, though they might take a bigger swing on the trade market in the next three hours. Tim Hill stands as the only southpaw in their current relief mix. The Yanks could be involved on top rental lefty Tanner Scott or a less exciting target like Tanner Banks or old friend Justin Wilson.

Ferguson is making $2.4MM in his final year of arbitration. There’s a little less than $800K in salary for the stretch run. The Yankees are paying a 110% tax on salary, so offloading Ferguson saves them around $2MM. Houston is in the second luxury tax bracket, so they’re paying a 32% tax — around $250K — to pick him up. He’ll be a free agent next offseason.

Austin, 23, is a former undrafted free agent out of UCLA. He has worked out of the bullpen in the low minors this season, turning in a 2.21 ERA across 36 2/3 innings. The 6’0″ righty has dominated low minors competition, striking out 31% of opponents while issuing walks at a meager 4.7% clip.

Jack Curry of the YES Network first reported the Astros were acquiring Ferguson for a minor leaguer and international bonus pool space. Chandler Rome of the Athletic identified the player as Austin and reported the $750K figure.

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Houston Astros New York Yankees Transactions Caleb Ferguson

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Twins Acquire Trevor Richards
View Comments (63)
Post a Comment

63 Comments

  1. andrewyf

    12 months ago

    Ferguson was a total failure of a bullpen arm. Nice outcome to get something from him.

    4
    Reply
    • LordD99

      12 months ago

      Smart move by the Yankees. That’s at least one win in the postseason for the Yankees if they face the Astros. That will counter the win the Astros picked up with Kukuci as the Yankees rarely hit him, although they did in his last start. Perhaps I’ve overthought this!

      2
      Reply
    • DR2020

      12 months ago

      Amazing to get anything for him at all other than a box of used jockstraps

      Reply
    • Frankie Bani

      12 months ago

      Yankees should trade Fergunson for a chocolate box

      Reply
  2. Mehmehmeh

    12 months ago

    I speak for many Astros fans in that I’m absolutely terrified by reading “a prospect.”

    12
    Reply
    • User 1939973770

      12 months ago

      it better not be melton barber matthews cole or gordon

      1
      Reply
    • CravenMoorehead

      12 months ago

      I was terrified of the prospect of seeing Ferguson pitch in a close game when he was with the Yankees this year 🙂

      5
      Reply
      • DR2020

        12 months ago

        As we all were, but now you won’t have to, except if we faced Houston in the postseason, where and he will become the living incarnation of Cy Young, of course against us

        Reply
    • yankeejim

      12 months ago

      He’s a A+ pitcher with 12.6 Ks and .9 BBs per 9.

      1
      Reply
      • User 1939973770

        12 months ago

        thanks. he wasn’t named when i posted my comment

        Reply
  3. Salzilla

    12 months ago

    interesting is all I got, but Leiter made him expendable.

    2
    Reply
  4. User 1939973770

    12 months ago

    neat another lefty who gives up a ton of homers

    1
    Reply
    • labial

      12 months ago

      Even Jose Abreu could launch one off this guy

      7
      Reply
      • mlb fan

        12 months ago

        Jose Feliciano too.

        3
        Reply
  5. clubberlang

    12 months ago

    Let’s see what he does in Houston

    Reply
  6. YankeesBleacherCreature

    12 months ago

    I thought he might be DFA’d once the Yankees’ other relievers come back from injuries. A prospect and int’l pool money is icing on the cake.

    5
    Reply
  7. mrmackey

    12 months ago

    I guess the Yankees feel better about Leiter’s chances to get lefties out than Ferguson’s.

    Maybe the Astros see something they can fix because to me Ferguson has been below average all year.

    3
    Reply
    • 16

      12 months ago

      Letter is equally strong vs Lefties and Righties.

      Reply
  8. highflyballintorightfield

    12 months ago

    I was disapponted when the Dodgers traded Ferguson and Victor Gonzalez, and kept Vesia. But dang, that worked out all right. In Friedman we trust.

    3
    Reply
  9. YanksPhan42

    12 months ago

    Like I’ve been saying on here, we need to deduct too with the arms we do have coming back. Effross, Burdi, Hamilton and Schmidt need a spot.
    More trades will have to be on deck today!

    1
    Reply
    • YanksPhan42

      12 months ago

      We also don’t have a lefty in the pen now. Could this mean Nestor to the pen and starter coming in?

      I’ll be a little greedy and say I want one of Yandy/Renigfo plus a starter…..and not Taillon!

      1
      Reply
      • Anthony maresca

        12 months ago

        That’s exactly what the plan is as they would not have done this trade without knowing they agreed to terms on a starter pushing Cortes to bullpen that imo will be an excellent move! The question begs who is the pitcher coming?

        Reply
        • YanksPhan42

          12 months ago

          I actually forgot about Hill, but then again…..not much there to remember. Still need another lefty

          Reply
        • 16

          12 months ago

          Leiter can be used against lefties, very strong career numbers and had reverse splits in the past.

          1
          Reply
      • StudWinfield

        12 months ago

        .356 obp vs lefties. What exactly is the problem?

        Reply
  10. RynoScoobs

    12 months ago

    Well… bye.

    Reply
  11. signenderinciarte

    12 months ago

    What is going on in the Bronx. These trades are seemingly useless besides maybe Chizzolm. Still Jazz is lowkey overrated and not a team fit for the Yanks. Confusing deadline for sure

    Reply
    • myaccount2

      12 months ago

      How is getting a prospect and international bonus money for a declining reliever having a bad season a negative or confusing? They just added an upgrade in Leiter.

      Jazz is showing to be more of a team fit than Gleyber. He’s displaying a team first attitude with his willingness to move to 3B and aggressive play so far.

      5
      Reply
      • Doron

        12 months ago

        The International Pool Money is AWESOME for Ferguson.
        The Prospect TBNL is a bonus.

        Oh, and if you were Jazz Chisholm, playing for the Marlins, and you get traded to a WS Contender, wouldn’t you be thrilled?
        He looked like he was on Top of the World in the last 2 games.

        3
        Reply
      • lesterdnightfly

        12 months ago

        “He’s displaying a team first attitude with his willingness to move to 3B and aggressive play so far.”
        All that in one game !

        Reply
        • myaccount2

          12 months ago

          He’s played in two even!

          1
          Reply
    • BLIN7Y

      12 months ago

      Seems like the Yanks like Jazz.

      5
      Reply
      • Doron

        12 months ago

        Seems like Jazz likes Judge’s bat!!

        3
        Reply
        • YankeesBleacherCreature

          12 months ago

          That was pretty funny that hit a homer with Judge’s bat and then claimed that he wouldn’t do it again bc it’s too heavy.

          Reply
    • Yankee Clipper

      12 months ago

      Yeah, and the Pads just agreed with Miami for Tanner Scott.

      What the hell are you doing, Cashman?!!

      Reply
      • DR2020

        12 months ago

        Nothing as usual Clipper! We knew this was coming, unfortunately

        1
        Reply
    • HatlessPete

      12 months ago

      Jazz is an overall solid lefty bat with power moving to yankee stadium, has speed and positional versatility and more years of team control. I like the add for the yankees.

      1
      Reply
  12. Alexburnshred

    12 months ago

    Tanner Scott incoming… please?

    1
    Reply
    • larkraxm

      12 months ago

      Probably Leiter’s roster spot.

      1
      Reply
      • Doron

        12 months ago

        Yup.

        Reply
    • Yankee Clipper

      12 months ago

      He’s going to the Padres.

      Reply
      • larkraxm

        12 months ago

        At least he can’t hurt us there!

        1
        Reply
  13. yanks2009

    12 months ago

    Bring back the Mexican lefty from the minors.

    1
    Reply
    • lesterdnightfly

      12 months ago

      Fernando Valenzuela? Sure, por qué no?

      Reply
  14. sam 17

    12 months ago

    Clearing space for another trade?

    Reply
  15. Tim is Dickless

    12 months ago

    Everyone is calling the stros now after seeing what they’ll pay for average rentals

    3
    Reply
  16. Doron

    12 months ago

    Well, this was necissary due to no 40 man roster slot open for Leiter.
    MORE!!!

    Reply
  17. Captainmike1

    12 months ago

    Good to see him go

    Reply
  18. Lrtexasman

    12 months ago

    Astros will start stretching him out to see if he can revert to a starter.

    1
    Reply
  19. rivera42

    12 months ago

    Good riddance. Addition by subtraction. Thanks Houston!

    Reply
  20. Django

    12 months ago

    He’s a .286 hitter (small sample) so maybe the Astros oughta give him a shot at 1B. Couldn’t be much worse than Abreu.

    Reply
  21. dasit

    12 months ago

    yankees made this trade in order to face him in the alcs. cashman playing three-dimensional chess

    Reply
    • DR2020

      12 months ago

      Well played dasit, but you give Cashman too much credit. You’re much smarter than he is obviously, although it could very well backfire, as you could turn him into something useful against us anyway, as they always seem to.

      Reply
  22. YanksPhan42

    12 months ago

    I’m not a Cashman fan at all…..but nice work on this one.

    2
    Reply
    • mlbnyyfan

      12 months ago

      Call up Shreve next to the rescue.

      Reply
      • mlbnyyfan

        12 months ago

        OMG Yankees just signed former OFer Brett Phillips as a pitcher. Talk about a desperate cheap move

        Reply
      • YankeesBleacherCreature

        12 months ago

        Ron Marinaccio. He’s an MLB pitcher and being wasted in AAA.

        Reply
    • Yankee Clipper

      12 months ago

      Problem is….. he didn’t get Estevez or Scott. Those were his biggest priorities. Again, taking the mid-their acquisitions and leaving a position of need open.

      We need a more aggressive GM instead of one who tries to “win” every trade on BTV or whatever.

      Reply
      • mlbnyyfan

        12 months ago

        Yankees make small moves and nothing of any significance value. I would rather them do nothing because the Yankees are not one or two players away from a World Series.

        1
        Reply
        • Yankee Clipper

          12 months ago

          Agreed. I hate straddling-the- line-type moves.

          1
          Reply
  23. YanksPhan42

    12 months ago

    Tanner to the Pads. They got Adam too. Ugh! Cashman…..where you at?

    1
    Reply
    • DR2020

      12 months ago

      Don’t sell the dude short, he’s got five minutes to work out the blockbuster everyone is hoping for. Of course I never expected it. It’s the same every deadline.

      1
      Reply
  24. YourDreamGM

    12 months ago

    A+ NY. Great reliever prospect and with that $ they can do a lot. Offer they couldn’t refuse.

    D for desperation Dana. Ok enough reliever. Cheaper than other teams have paid for some. But overpay still.

    Reply

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