The Yankees’ bullpen was hit-or-miss throughout the 2025 season. There were pitchers who, at times, showed excellent stuff. But for most of the time during the season, plenty was left on the table, including
a handful of wins because of late-game blunders.
Luke Weaver was one of those players who had an up-and-down season and, at times, cost the Bombers a game.
This isn’t the first piece we’ve done recently on the right-handed reliever. My colleague, Nick Power, did a deep dive into the nitty-gritty of what Weaver can bring to a bullpen when he’s signed in free agency here. So, for those of you looking for a more in-depth statistical piece, go check that out.
According to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, the Yankees are showing “genuine interest” in bringing Weaver back into the fold for 2026. And I don’t think it would be a bad idea at all.
Unsurprisingly, the Yankees aren’t the only team that is a part of the modest “Luke Weaver sweepstakes”. While last season wasn’t one of his best, as he sported a 3.62 ERA in 64.2 innings pitched, there were some bright spots which could lead teams to believe he could return to form as soon as next year.
Weaver finished with a 0.5 fWAR, which wasn’t the best of his career but also wasn’t the worst, and his 2.96 xERA was the lowest of his career. His FIP (3.89) and xFIP (4.12) were not as encouraging as his xERA, and they were a fair bit lower in 2024, but it’s not as if those numbers were out-of-the-ordinary low. It would be very possible for him to return to his 2024 level in both statistics.
The case for a reunion with Weaver, though, goes beyond the numbers. Firstly, he’s a familiar face that manager Aaron Boone has relied on in the past in key situations. When he took over as the closer for the Yankees, he pitched like he had been in that role for years. He came through in all sorts of high-leverage situations throughout the 2024 season. He proved to everyone within the Yankees organization that he could be trusted in multiple positions at the back end of the bullpen.
Second, Weaver would not be a prohibitive option. He’s coming off a bargain deal, having signed with the Yankees for just $2 million for the 2024 season, with a cheap team option the Yankees happily exercised. Weaver will surely be looking to top the last contract he signed, but he’s not going to come close to the kinds of deals recently inked by the likes of Devin Williams and Robert Suarez.
Lastly, the Yankees need somebody they can rely on in the bullpen, and plugging Weaver in would make Brian Cashman’s job much easier in filling out the rest of the relief corps. Even through the ups and downs, Weaver has largely been durable with the Yankees, totaling an eye-popping 84.2 innings in 2024 and running up 64.2 in 2025. Adding him back in gives Cashman and the front office a base to work with, and could let them get creative as they look for talented but unheralded relievers to round out the roster.
Weaver was a massive part of the 2024 Yankees team that reached the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. And while last season may not have been his best, having a familiar face (who isn’t being paid an exorbitant amount of money) for both the players in the clubhouse and the manager to lean on wouldn’t be a bad idea as the Yankees try and reach the promised land once more.
