Yankees Acquire Veteran Reliever in Cost-Effective Trade

New York adds left-handed pitcher JoJo Romero from the St. Louis Cardinals.

Feb. 20, 2026 at 10:07pm

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The New York Yankees have made a trade to bolster their bullpen, acquiring left-handed reliever JoJo Romero from the St. Louis Cardinals. The Yankees sent prospects Dax Kilby and Kyle Carr to St. Louis in the deal, which provides the Yankees with additional high-leverage pitching depth as they look to end their World Series championship drought.

Why it matters

The Yankees are always in "win-now" mode and are seeking to improve their roster ahead of the upcoming season. Adding a proven left-handed reliever like Romero can help the team's bullpen match up better against tough left-handed hitters in crucial late-inning situations.

The details

In the trade, the Yankees acquired JoJo Romero, a 28-year-old left-handed reliever, from the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals received prospects Dax Kilby and Kyle Carr in return. Romero has experience pitching in high-leverage situations and can provide the Yankees with another trusted option out of the bullpen.

  • The trade was completed on February 18, 2026, just before the start of spring training.

The players

JoJo Romero

A 28-year-old left-handed reliever who has experience pitching in high-leverage situations for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Dax Kilby

A prospect in the Yankees' farm system who was traded to the Cardinals as part of the deal.

Kyle Carr

Another prospect in the Yankees' farm system who was traded to the Cardinals as part of the deal.

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What they’re saying

“The Yankees want to win the World Series, and they want to win it this year. This is a team that's always in win-now mode, and are mired in one of their longest championship droughts in franchise history.”

— Mark Morales-Smith, Sports Illustrated Writer

“If they are going to compete in a loaded AL East, then go on to knock off a National League powerhouse in the World Series, they need to build a team that is dominant at every position.”

— Mark Morales-Smith, Sports Illustrated Writer

What’s next

The Yankees will look to integrate Romero into their bullpen during spring training, with the goal of having him ready to contribute in high-leverage situations when the regular season begins.

The takeaway

This trade represents a cost-effective move by the Yankees to bolster their bullpen and improve their chances of ending their World Series championship drought. By adding a proven left-handed reliever like Romero, the Yankees have taken a step towards building a roster that can compete in the loaded AL East and potentially make a deep postseason run.