The Baltimore Orioles have made a strategic move to bolster their catching depth by acquiring Alex Jackson from the New York Yankees, trading international bonus pool space and a player to be named later or cash considerations.

The trade is viewed positively for the Yankees, allowing them to gain value from a player who was not contributing effectively to their active roster.

Overall, this trade reflects the Orioles' ambitions to build a competitive team by leveraging young talent and addressing immediate needs in their roster.

Additionally, Gary Sánchez has been placed on the 10-day injured list following a right knee sprain sustained on July 5, 2025, further complicating the team's roster.

Jackson, who is 29 years old, has had a challenging career in the majors with a batting average of .132 over 124 games, but he brings experience from previous stints with Atlanta, Miami, and Milwaukee.

The Orioles are currently facing a significant roster challenge with 14 players on the injured list, which has greatly impacted their depth and overall performance.

Fans are eager to see top prospect Samuel Basallo, who has been excelling in Triple-A, but the team is prioritizing his development over rushing him to the majors.

This trade comes in response to significant injury troubles within the Orioles' catching lineup, notably with starter Adley Rutschman sidelined until at least the All-Star break due to a left oblique strain.

In the Orioles' recent game against the Braves, Jacob Stallings stepped in for Sánchez, contributing to a 9-6 victory in 10 innings, and will now share catching duties with Jackson.

Despite his struggles at the major league level, Jackson has shown better performance in the minors, hitting .226 with 10 home runs in 44 games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season.

He joins the Orioles after not making the Yankees' Opening Day roster for 2025, as the team opted for younger catching options like Austin Wells and rookie JC Escarra.

Interim manager Tony Mansolino acknowledged the challenge for both Jackson and Stallings to quickly adapt to their new roles within the Orioles' system.