NEW YORK —Spring training is barely underway, but former New York Yankees players are already making headlines across MLB. From position switches to new contracts to bag-related drama, ex-Bronx Bombers are fueling the offseason conversation on multiple fronts. And for Yankees fans, the reminders of what got away keep stacking up.
Weaver sparks Subway Series fire before throwing a pitch
The offseason feud between the Mets and Yankees got a fresh spark this week, thanks to a duffel bag. Reliever Luke Weaver, who signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the Mets in December, showed up to Port St. Lucie carrying a Yankees equipment bag. The image went viral within minutes and drew sharp rebuke from Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay.
Weaver addressed the situation on “The Show” podcast with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman. He kept things light but direct.
“I thought it was a bit silly personally,” Weaver said. “I understand why people are, you know, I wouldn’t say an uproar, but why they’re talking about it.”
The 32-year-old right-hander spent two and a half productive seasons in the Bronx after arriving on a waiver claim from Seattle in 2023. He made 129 appearances for the Yankees, posting a 3.22 ERA across 162 innings with 12 saves. But New York never made him an offer after 2025, pushing him across town.
“I just need people to take a deep breath, know that I love the Mets now,” Weaver said. “I’m a Met. I love where I’m at. I love the teammates so far. I hope to win as many trophies as possible here.”
Weaver joins Juan Soto, Clay Holmes and Devin Williams as former Yankees now wearing blue and orange. The Mets have raided the Bronx bullpen and lineup all winter. That duffel bag was just the latest reminder.
Soto switches to left field in second year with Mets
Juan Soto is moving to left field. That is the big news out of the Mets camp this week. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns announced the switch on Tuesday, shifting the $765 million superstar from right field to left for the 2026 MLB season.
The 27-year-old ranked as the worst defender in baseball in right field last year according to Outs Above Average at Statcast, posting a minus-12 OAA. His arm strength sat in just the 66th percentile league-wide. A move to left reduces the impact of that weakness.
Soto is no stranger to left field. He broke into MLB there with the Washington Nationals in 2018 and has logged more than 4,000 innings at the position across 460 big league games. His best defensive season came in left during 2019, when he produced a plus-5 OAA.
Stearns said Soto’s preparation for the World Baseball Classic helped trigger the decision. Soto will represent the Dominican Republic in left field during the WBC, and his comfort level made the switch a natural fit.
“Over the last month or so, as (Carlos Mendoza) and Juan were talking about the season, Juan was working out in left field because he’s gonna play left field for the DR in the WBC,” Stearns said. “He felt really comfortable there. It made sense for us from a roster perspective, so we’re gonna go forward with it.”
The move reshapes the Mets outfield entirely. Luis Robert Jr., acquired from the Chicago White Sox, takes over in center. Right field now opens up for a spring training battle between top prospect Carson Benge, Tyrone Taylor and Brett Baty. For Yankees fans, watching Soto settle into his second year across town stings even more when the numbers still pop. He batted .263 with 43 home runs and 105 RBIs for the Mets in 2025. New York missed the MLB playoffs with an 83-79 record, but Soto was not the problem.
Sanchez lands with the Brewers for a second stint
Gary Sanchez is back in Milwaukee. The veteran catcher agreed to a one-year, $1.75 million contract with the Brewers on Wednesday, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. It marks the sixth MLB organization for the 33-year-old and his second tour with the Brewers after spending 2024 there.
The former Yankees All-Star spent 2025 with the Baltimore Orioles but was limited to just 29 games and 101 plate appearances due to right wrist inflammation and a knee sprain. When healthy, he showed flashes of the old power, hitting .231 with five home runs and a 100 wRC+.
Sanchez was a two-time All-Star (2017, 2019) and Silver Slugger winner during his seven-year run with the Yankees from 2015 through 2021. He was second in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2016 after mashing 20 home runs with a 1.032 OPS in just 53 games. For his career, Sanchez owns a .224 batting average with 189 home runs, 509 RBIs and a .770 OPS across 859 MLB games.
In Milwaukee, Sanchez will serve as the backup to two-time All-Star William Contreras and compete with top prospect Jeferson Quero. The Brewers finished 2025 with the best record in baseball before falling to the Dodgers in the NLCS. They are banking on veteran depth to make another run in 2026.
Boone brushes off Kiner-Falefa’s playoff jab
Meanwhile, back in Tampa, Yankees manager Aaron Boone had to deal with another former player taking shots at the franchise. New Boston Red Sox infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa told reporters this week that his Toronto Blue Jays were “a lot happier” to face the Yankees than the Red Sox in last year’s American League Division Series.
“We definitely felt like it was a tougher matchup for us,” Kiner-Falefa said about the Red Sox. “We were watching Crochet just dice up.”
The Blue Jays got their wish. Toronto knocked out the Yankees in four games in the ALDS, rocking 2024 AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil early in Game 1 and battering All-Star lefty Max Fried in Game 2. It was not close.
Boone responded at his first spring training press conference on Wednesday. The reaction was calm, measured, and carried just enough edge.
“I guess he was right,” Boone told reporters. “A little surprising to hear IKF say that, but whatever. That’s fine.”
Asked if the comments bothered him, Boone said: “Not really, honestly. You’ve got to play who you play.”
Kiner-Falefa spent 2022 and 2023 with the Yankees before bouncing to the Pirates, Blue Jays and now the Red Sox. He went 0-for-6 with an error in the ALDS. He signed a one-year, $6 million deal with Boston this offseason. The Red Sox and Yankees open their 2026 rivalry on April 21 in Boston. Boone’s roster believes it is deeper and better built for October. The manager is not interested in winning press conferences. He wants to win in the postseason. That is where the real answers will come.
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