As Luke Weaver stood at his locker in early September, he expressed a desire to remain a Yankee.
Initially acquired off the waiver wire at the end of the 2023 season, Weaver turned a small sample into a fruitful audition and signed a cheap contract that kept him in New York over the next two years as the former first-round pick transitioned from a failed starter to a high-leverage reliever. His career transformed, Weaver said he’d like to stick with the club that helped make it happen.
“I would want to, of course,” the impending free agent told the Daily News when asked if he’d like to re-sign this winter. “I would love to continue to keep that going.”
That was before Weaver’s 2025 campaign ended on some disastrous notes, as he allowed 10 earned runs over 9.1 innings in September. Three more postseason appearances saw Weaver total just one out while permitting five runs. He also shared his frustrations over his inability to adjust — mentally and physically — after the Yankees approached him with some pitch-tipping concerns ahead of the playoffs.
“You don’t need more things stacking up on your plate,” Weaver said, hinting at some information overload during a 7.5-minute scrum after Game 1 of the ALDS.
Weaver’s 2025 issues were not limited to September and October, though.
One of the best relievers in baseball last year, the righty recorded a 2.89 ERA over 84 innings and eventually replaced Clay Holmes as the Yankees’ closer down the stretch and in the playoffs. Weaver appeared to be on a similar track this season, as he posted a 1.05 ERA and replaced Devin Williams in the closer’s role over his first 24 games.
Then came a hamstring strain at the very end of May. Weaver simply wasn’t the same pitcher after returning from the injury sooner than expected in mid-June, logging a 6.60 ERA over his next 15 games.
While Weaver did have a strong August — he totaled two earned runs over 14.2 innings — the Yankees quietly started using him against the bottom of opposing lineups when possible.
Weaver also wasn’t the multi-inning weapon he was in 2024, when he tallied 31 appearances that lasted more than three outs and 13 appearances in which he completed at least two innings. He had just 16 outings that exceeded one frame in 2025. Only two of those went two full innings.
Weaver said that neither his hamstring strain nor fatigue impacted his usage or performance, and the Yankees routinely attributed his struggles to poor command and execution, rather than lacking stuff, prior to his pitch-tipping comments.
The question now is what’s next for Weaver. The same goes for a Yankees bullpen that has multiple free agents after the unit struggled throughout the season.
Weaver, who is repped by Casey Close, pitched on a team-friendly club option this past season after he and his agent briefly talked to the Yankees about an extension last offseason. However, the team was fixated on Juan Soto’s free agency and its contingency plans for the slugger’s eventual departure.
“There were some big priorities in that situation, and so it just became a back-burner thing,” Weaver said in September. “And then from there, it became something that I just didn’t really care to talk about [as I] focused on the season. There was some light discussion, but nothing really came of it.”
Weaver added that he hopes there are still “good discussions to be had” with the Yankees, as he’s enjoyed his time in the Bronx. However, he also said that he is “open” to starting again, as former teammates like Holmes and Michael King have successfully made the switch from relief to rotation recently.
They did so with less rotation experience than Weaver, who has a 5.05 ERA over 106 starts in his career.
“All I’ll say is that I’m an opportunist,” Weaver said. “If that’s where the wind blows, then we’ll drift with it and see where it takes us.”
While Weaver said he’s “found a home” in the bullpen, he went on to say that he feels “well-equipped” to start because of his background and what he’s learned about pitching while a Yankee.
“We’ll just leave that as the door’s cracked,” Weaver concluded.
However, pursuit of a starting opportunity would surely slam the door shut on whatever remaining chance Weaver has of staying with the Yankees.
The team’s rotation already features Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren and Luis Gil, while Carlos Rodón, Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt are expected back from injuries at various points next season. Warren and Gil could ultimately help the Yankees fill some of their bullpen openings with Weaver, Williams and others hitting the open market. Prospects such as Carlos Lagrange and Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz could also factor in somehow.
No matter his role, Weaver may not have a spot with the Yankees after reviving his career with them. If so, he’ll depart with appreciation for his time in pinstripes.
“It feels a bit like a rejuvenation,” Weaver said. “If I never came back here, it would always hold a big place in my heart.
“It’s just been incredible, and I’ll forever be indebted to the memories that came here.”
