ORLANDO, Fla. — Brian Cashman may have just told Luke Weaver goodbye without saying it directly.
The Yankees general manager appeared on YES Network from the Winter Meetings on Sunday. He was asked about rebuilding the bullpen. His answer raised eyebrows across the baseball world.
Cashman spoke about two relievers in the past tense. One signed with the rival Mets. The other is still a free agent looking for a home.
Cashman lumps Weaver with departed Williams
“A lot of the players we brought in are collapsing right into our winter,” Cashman said. “They weren’t here for three months and gone. They protected us in many ways.”
Then came the telling part.
“So, for instance, if we try to rebuild the bullpen, we have Doval and Bednar now as we move into the 2026 season, but we’ve lost Devin and Weaver,” Cashman said. “A lot of the things we did at the deadline give us some protection, but we need to add to it.”
The word choice stood out. “Lost.” Not “may lose.” Not “could lose.” Cashman spoke about Weaver as if his departure was already final.
The problem? Weaver is still unsigned. He remains available on the open market. The Yankees could still bring him back if they wanted.
The bullpen that finished 11th in the American League needs repairs
The Yankees posted a 4.37 ERA from their relief corps in 2025. That ranked 11th in the American League. It slipped even further after the trade deadline.
Devin Williams is gone. He signed a three-year, $51 million deal with the crosstown rival Mets last week. Cashman admitted he never made Williams a formal offer before the reliever bolted to Queens.
Weaver is still available. He went 4-4 with a 3.62 ERA in 64 appearances for the Yankees in 2025. He recorded eight saves. He struck out 72 batters in 64.2 innings.
But Cashman’s comments suggest the team has already moved on from the 32-year-old right-hander.
Weaver’s 2025 season told two different stories
The first half of 2025 looked like vintage Weaver. He carried over his dominance from the previous season. He held down the closer job when Williams struggled early.
A left hamstring injury in early June derailed everything. Weaver hit the injured list and was sidelined for several weeks. He never regained his footing after returning.
The postseason was a disaster. Weaver made three appearances in the ALDS against Toronto. He recorded just one out. He allowed five earned runs. His ERA ballooned to 135.00.
Reports emerged that Weaver was tipping pitches during the playoffs. Blue Jays hitters seemed to know what was coming. Manager Aaron Boone lost trust in the reliever at the worst possible time.
The deadline acquisitions now form the foundation
Cashman acquired David Bednar from Pittsburgh and Camilo Doval from San Francisco at the July 31 trade deadline. Both remain under team control for 2026.
Bednar served as the closer down the stretch. He earned both of the Yankees’ postseason saves. The organization clearly views him as the ninth-inning anchor going forward.
Doval provides another high-leverage option. The two trade deadline additions give the Yankees a foundation. But holes remain.
The team re-signed Ryan Yarbrough earlier this offseason. They picked up Tim Hill’s option. Neither arm profiles as a dominant late-inning weapon.
Weaver expressed interest in returning just weeks ago
Before the offseason began, Weaver made clear he wanted to stay in the Bronx. He told reporters he would be “very interested” in re-signing with the Yankees.
“I would say, look, the door is open,” Weaver said in September. “I am never going to just say ‘absolutely not.'”
He also expressed openness to returning to a starting role. Several teams have shown interest in Weaver as a rotation candidate. MLB Trade Rumors projects him to sign a two-year, $18 million contract. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel predicts a three-year, $30 million deal.
The Cubs, Padres, Orioles and Mets have all been linked to Weaver this offseason.
Cashman’s word choice tells the story
General managers choose their words carefully. They know every syllable gets dissected. They know agents and rival executives are listening.
Cashman did not have to say “we’ve lost Weaver.” He could have said the pitcher “is a free agent.” He could have said “we’re exploring options’ with the reliever.
Instead, he grouped Weaver with Williams. One reliever already signed elsewhere. One reliever still theoretically available.
The Yankees have spoken to Weaver’s representative this offseason. But Cashman’s latest comments suggest those conversations are going nowhere. The door to a Bronx return appears to be closing.
Weaver revitalized his career over the past two seasons with the Yankees. He transformed from a journeyman starter to a dominant reliever. He became a postseason hero in 2024.
Now he may have to continue his career somewhere else.
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