In the hours following the Yankees securing their playoff berth, the uncertainty surrounding the closer role has resurfaced. Manager Aaron Boone faces a key question: who will be the official closer during the postseason?
Boone’s take on the closer role
Boone addressed this issue in an interview with Bryan Hoch, acknowledging that while Luke Weaver has been excellent recently, he’s not ready to officially declare him as the closer.
“It may turn out that Luke Weaver is closing a lot of games,” Boone said, “but it may also happen that he comes into a spot in the sixth inning and gets four or five important outs when the game is on the line.”
On the other hand, Boone discussed Clay Holmes, who has faced struggles recently, describing him as “snakebitten” by a few mistakes. Despite the challenges, Boone emphasized that Holmes remains crucial to the Yankees’ postseason plans. “The reality is, he’s still really good. His stuff is really good, and he’s going to get big outs for us,” Boone added.
The closer debate
This uncertainty has divided Yankees fans. Some are calling for the team to part ways with Clay Holmes, while others argue that Weaver should be the team’s closer based on his impressive September performances. Holmes, who has held the closer role throughout the season, has blown more than 12 saves, raising concerns among the fanbase. Moreover, Holmes let another save opportunity slip away this week, the latest occurring in a game against Seattle that spanned two days due to the time zone difference.
Holmes’ most recent blown save came in Wednesday’s extra-inning win over Seattle. He was charged with allowing a solo home run while recording two outs, marking his league-leading 13th blown save of the season. Holmes’ struggles have been apparent in his last seven appearances, where he has surrendered six runs over just five innings. With at least one hit allowed in five of his last seven outings, doubts about his reliability in high-leverage situations are growing.
On the other hand, Luke Weaver has capitalized on his opportunities. Weaver earned his first save on September 6th and has since shown that he can handle the pressure of closing games. His strong September performance could make him a viable option to step into the closer role as the postseason nears.
The Yankees’ closer strategy moving forward
The Yankees face a significant decision regarding their bullpen strategy, particularly around Holmes. The 31-year-old, set to become a free agent, has posted a respectable 3.36 ERA this season. However, his September struggles—culminating in a 10.80 ERA over seven appearances—have raised concerns about his ability to maintain consistency in October.
Boone has adopted a flexible approach to the closer position, leaning on emerging bullpen arms like Ian Hamilton and Weaver. Weaver, a veteran acquired from Seattle last season, has quickly earned Boone’s trust. Signed to a one-year deal with a club option for 2025, Weaver’s performance has been solid this season, boasting a 3.02 ERA over 80.1 innings and an impressive 10.64 strikeouts per nine innings.
Since the start of September, Weaver has been particularly dominant, recording a 2.16 ERA and striking out 18.36 batters per nine innings. His advanced metrics further highlight his effectiveness, with a .207 expected batting average and a top percentile ranking in strikeout and whiff rates.
Weaver’s resurgence is due, in part, to a revamped pitch arsenal, featuring a four-seam fastball, changeup, and cutter. His fastball velocity has increased by 1.7 mph compared to last year, contributing to a significant drop in opponents’ batting average against it. His changeup has also been a key weapon, with an impressive 45.7% whiff rate.
As the Yankees approach the postseason, Weaver’s success may prompt Boone to lean on him more heavily in high-leverage situations. His recent performances suggest that he could play a crucial role in the Yankees’ bullpen strategy as they gear up for October.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Right now, as long as Clay Holmes is not pitching any meaningful innings, meaning in the 8th or 9th innings, it doesn’t matter who else is pitching at the moment.