Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona explained the decision to claim Oswaldo Cabrera.
The Cincinnati Reds are already looking toward the 2027 season, and their latest move fits that plan. Cincinnati claimed infielder Oswaldo Cabrera off waivers from the New York Yankees on Friday. The versatile 27-year-old switch-hitter gives manager Terry Francona a low-cost flier for a roster that has nothing left to play for this season.
Francona commented on the move during Cincinnati’s current series with the Chicago Cubs. “This is a guy we view that can possibly stay here and be on our club next year,” Francona said, via Reds reporter Charlie Goldsmith. “The reports on him have been off the charts with makeup, he has played seven positions. We need to see where that goes and what we want to do after we talk to him." He added, "We can't pass this one up."
The Yankees designated Cabrera for assignment earlier in the week to clear a spot on their 40-man roster. A designation gives a club about seven days to trade, release or waive a player. New York chose waivers, which exposed Cabrera to the 29 other teams for a claim window of roughly two days.
Sitting near the bottom of the standings, the Reds ranked ahead of every contending club and claimed him first.
Cabrera is arbitration-eligible and under team control beyond this year so it makes sense why Cincinnati picked him up.
Cabrera reached the majors in 2022 and quickly earned a reputation for playing all over the diamond, from every infield spot to both outfield corners. He had claimed a starting job with the Yankees in 2025 before a fractured left ankle, suffered on a play at the plate that May, required surgery and ended his season.
He returned healthy in 2026 but he has appeared in just three big-league games without recording a hit in 11 plate appearances. The bat never went quiet, though. Cabrera has spent most of the year at Triple-A, where he hit .288 with 19 home runs and 69 RBIs across 122 games. That production is what Cincinnati hopes to tap into.
To open a 40-man roster spot, the Reds made a few moves. Cincinnati shifted Spencer Steer to the 60-day injured list with a wrist sprain and placed reliever Julian Garcia on the 15-day IL with loose bodies in his right elbow. The club also recalled pitcher Julian Aguiar from Triple-A Louisville.
At 72-82 and last in the NL Central, Cincinnati is out of the playoff race and using the final weeks as a tryout for 2027. Cabrera now gets a shot to show Francona he belongs in those plans.
