Yankees Make Unexpected Trade Amid Latest Losing Streak

If a savior emerges in the coming weeks to rescue the New York Yankees' season, it won't be veteran catcher Alex Jackson.

The free-falling Yankees traded Jackson, a 29-year-old backstop currently at Triple-A, to the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday morning. Baltimore sent international signing bonus pool money, and will later give the Yankees a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Baltimore recently lost three catchers over two weeks. Jackson's arrival could mean a trade involving ex-Yankees All-Star Gary Sánchez is imminent.

Jackson, the 2014 No. 6 pick of the Seattle Mariners, is a career .132 hitter with six home runs, 24 RBIs, and a .456 OPS in 340 MLB plate appearances. He batted .122 in 139 at-bats for the Tampa Bay Rays last year.

New York Yankees catcher Alex Jackson

Dave Nelson-Imagn Images

It's been more of the same thus far, with Jackson posting a .226 average, 10 homers, and 34 RBIs at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

The Jackson trade comes amid the Yankees' six-game losing streak and catcher Austin Wells' lingering hand injury. Wells is playing through a circulation issue in his left index finger, and the Yankees haven't shown any indication they'll place him on the injured list.

Only weeks after holding a seven-game lead in the AL East, the Yankees have fallen to 48-41 and trail the Toronto Blue Jays by three games. The 39-49 Orioles are 7 1/2 games back in the Wild Card race.