The New York Yankees announced that they have acquired international signing bonus pool money and Minor League right-hand pitcher Kelly Austin from the Houston Astros in exchange for left-handed pitcher Caleb Ferguson.
In 26 relief appearances this season between Single-A Fayetteville (8G) and High-A Asheville (18G), Austin, 23, is 3-0 overall with three saves and a 2.21 ERA (36.2IP, 30H, 12R/9ER, 7BB, 46K, 5HR). In 27 relief appearances over two Minor League seasons (2023–24) with the Astros organization, he is 3-0 with three saves and a 2.95 ERA (36.2IP, 31H, 15R/12ER, 9BB, 46K, 5HR). On July 19, 2023, the Pasadena, California, native was first signed by the Astros as a non-drafted free agent.
In 42 bullpen appearances with the Yankees in 2024, Ferguson, 28, is 1-3 with one save and a 5.13 ERA (33.1IP, 34H, 24R/19ER, 16BB, 41K, 5HR). He has played in 243 games (14 starts) across portions of six Major League seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2018–20, ’22–23) and Yankees (2024). He is 19–12 with six saves and a 3.66 ERA (240.2IP, 219H, 117R/98ER, 98BB, 288K, 29HR). On February 5, 2024, the Yankees acquired the left-handed pitcher from the Dodgers in exchange for LHP Matt Gage and RHP Christian Zazueta. The product of Columbus, Ohio, was first chosen in the 38th round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft by Los Angeles-NL.
