The Yankees announced that they have exercised their club option on right-hander Luke Weaver for the 2025 season. He’ll make a $2.5MM salary in the upcoming campaign.
The decision is not surprising at all. The Yankees showed a lot of faith in Weaver and it paid off in a big way. Though he was once a first-round pick and top prospect, his initial career success led into a real rough patch.
Weaver showed some promise as a starter at the start of his career but posted a 5.95 earned run average over the 2020-2023 period. He was designated for assignment by the Mariners in September of 2023 and landed with the Yankees, making three appearances for the Yanks as they ran out the clock on that season.
They must have seen something they liked in that time, as they re-signed him in January, a one-year deal that included a $2MM salary in 2024, a club option for 2025, as well as incentives and escalators.
The gamble paid out in a huge way, as Weaver just wrapped up an excellent season. He tossed 84 innings out of the Yankee bullpen this year with a 2.89 earned run average. He struck out 31.1% of batters faced while keeping his walk rate to a 7.9% level. He earned 22 holds and took over as closer late in the year, earning four saves. He made another 12 appearances in the postseason with a 1.79 ERA, earning four more saves.
Weaver’s $2.5MM club option came with escalators but they didn’t kick in until 100 innings pitched, presumably allowing him to lock in extra earnings if he eventually returned to the rotation. But since he stayed in relief all year, he wasn’t able to push the value of the option up.
$2.5MM is peanuts for a major league club, especially one like the Yankees that generally runs one of the higher payrolls in the league. For how well Weaver pitched this year, this was one of the most no-brainer decisions of the offseason.
No brainer, let’s see what he can do for a full season as closer.
The Yankees go through closers liked sliced bread. Seems to be the deal these days.
Couldn’t be further from the case. It was Holmes for three years, before him Chapman for six, before him a bit of turnover between D-Rob/Betances and then Rivera for two decades.
He can rent a loft in Brooklyn w that money. Ride the subway to games
Love Luke Weaver, but it would be nice to get Helsley, or a true closer. Weaver does a great job but he’s be an awesome setup man.
Helsley can be yours if Cashman makes a good offer.
Exactly my fear…. Cashman’s offer will almost always be substandard, which is why he rarely lands the guy needed. Soto is an obvious exception.
If the Yankees are going to spend prospect capital, I’d rather it be for a second or third baseman. They can always just sign Tanner Scott for just money.
Yeah, great call, Joe. Scott would be an excellent complement to Weaver and is a lefty.
Scott going to command $16 mill avv over 6 yrs no thank you! The days of paying $15-20 million for a Closer are over and poor allocation of funds. Weaver will Close
Agreed Weaver was amazing but going into the season with him as the number 1 guy in the bullpen would be a mistake. Helsley would be ideal. The Yanks have so many holes though gotta be careful where you put those chips but a top bullpen arm needs to happen.
Yeah I’m with you on this. If I could just pick the guy I like best on paper absent salary and etc I’d be looking at tanner Scott. Has the type of game the yanks like in a relief arm from what I hear and he’s lefty besides. Ultimately you can’t go wrong with having more than one quality late game/closing option. Weavers ability to give more length offers some very intriguing situational options as a stopper or fireman imo.
Agree completely with you, Pete.
Probably you can get Helsey for free if you take the contract of Arenado…
I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Dodgers make that offer.
This guy has been a journeyman reliever and had a nice ride at the end of the season. Yanks would be foolish to think they can count on him being a legitimate closer moving forward.
Career journeyman reliever? He’s had 38 relief appearances prior to 2024. He’s been a failed starter just recently turned into reliever.
Clearly you haven’t seen him pitch this past season.
Do u think 2.5 million is too steep for the New York Yankees?
Their annual awards dinner costs more.
Idk, I kind of feel like we might be looking at that late career Andrew Miller type breakout. I’d trot him out as my closer and use those assets you’d have to give up for a Helsley elsewhere on my roster. If Weaver doesn’t pan out, make a midseason trade. Right now I just feel they have bigger fish to fry.
The Yankees aren’t going to do anything major until the Juan Soto situation is resolved.
Because they always put their eggs in one basket and can’t do more than one thing at a time?
Yankees will NOT wait for Soto since Boras known for dragging negotiations into spring training something very few teams will do when they have a roster to fill other holes. I see Soto signing early December so teams can build a roster around him.
MLB Winter Meetings is Dec. 9-12 in Dallas.
I will be very surprised if the Soto free agency drags out that long. There are only a few teams who can afford him.
love weaver but the downside to his rebirth is it reinforces the yankees’ believe that they can build a bullpen through matt blake reclamation projects. this year’s bullpen pulled it together just in time for the playoffs but they were a disaster through much of the summer. without soto (assuming he signs elsewhere) and with a rotation of 5-and-fly guys (schmidt/gil/stroman) the yankees will need an elite high-k bullpen to survive
I think they will in fact build an elite bullpen. Weaver is back. Don’t be surprised if Holmes is back on a 1 year or 2 year deal. That bowling ball he throws is real. But I think they will get an elite closer too.
Holmes will sign a 1 year deal with KC to rebuild his value.