NEW YORK — The Yankees made their first significant trade of the offseason Tuesday night. They acquired left-handed pitcher Ryan Weathers from the Miami Marlins. The cost? Four minor league prospects, including three ranked among the organization’s top 30.
The deal for a rotation no. 6 or 7 surprised many around baseball. Not because the Yankees needed pitching. They clearly do. The surprise came from the price tag attached to a pitcher who has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career.
General manager Brian Cashman bet big on upside. Whether that bet pays off remains the question that will define this trade for years to come.
Scout questions the hefty price tag
“That’s a power arm with swing-and-miss stuff,” an MLB scout told NJ Advance Media. “I saw Weathers get up to 96 (mph) last season. But they sure gave up a lot to get a depth piece. That’s a steep price. Wow!”
The scout, who requested anonymity because his club does not permit public comments, raised the central concern surrounding this deal.
“The biggest question with this guy is, ‘Can he stay healthy?’ Durability is going to be the main thing.”
Those words hang heavy over the transaction. Weathers has never made more than 18 starts in a single season. That came during his rookie year with San Diego in 2021. He has logged just 24 starts and 125 innings over the last two seasons combined.
Four Yankees prospects head to Miami in exchange
The Yankees sent a significant haul to the Marlins. Outfielders Dillon Lewis (No. 16 prospect) and Brendan Jones (No. 15) led the package. Infielders Dylan Jasso (No. 23) and Juan Matheus completed the deal.
Lewis stands as the headliner. The 22-year-old center fielder slashed .237/.321/.445 with 22 home runs and 26 stolen bases across two Class A levels last season. His exit velocity numbers ranked among the best in the entire farm system. His 90th percentile exit velocity of 107.7 mph matched prospects like Bryce Eldridge and Konnor Griffin.
The Marlins targeted Lewis specifically. According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, Miami sought Lewis in earlier trade talks for Edward Cabrera. When those discussions stalled, the Marlins found another way to acquire him.
Jones hit .245/.359/.395 between High-A and Double-A as a 23-year-old. He stole 51 bases in 60 attempts. His speed and defense in center field give him a clear path to the majors.
Jasso produced a .257/.326/.400 line with 13 homers at Double-A. Matheus swiped 40 bags while hitting .275/.365/.376 in A-ball. Both project as utility options at the major league level.
Weathers brings elite velocity but injury history
The 26-year-old left-hander owns undeniable talent. His fastball averaged 96.9 mph last season, according to Baseball Savant. That velocity ranked in the 86th percentile among all pitchers. He paired it with a sweeper that generated a 51% whiff rate in 2024.
In 24 starts for Miami over the past two seasons, Weathers posted a 3.74 ERA with 117 strikeouts across 125 innings. Those numbers hint at significant upside when healthy.
The problem is the “when healthy” part. A flexor strain sidelined him from March 27 to May 14 last season. A lat strain then cost him from June 9 to Sept. 11. He also missed time in 2021 with an ankle injury and landed on the 60-day injured list in 2024 with a finger strain.
In five MLB seasons, Weathers owns a 12-23 record with a 4.93 ERA in 70 games. He has struck out 235 batters over 281 innings. The career numbers tell the story of unrealized potential.
Marlins manager predicted breakout before trade
Ironically, Miami manager Clayton McCullough named Weathers as his pick for a “breakout” 2026 season just one month before the trade.
“More breakout for me is Ryan Weathers,” McCullough told reporters during the Winter Meetings, per FishOnFirst. “Ryan, for me, it’s the talent. Unfortunately, last year, he had an interrupted season with some injuries, like he’s had the last couple of years.”
McCullough remained bullish on the left-hander’s future.
“Top-shelf stuff from the left side. He’s incredibly motivated, highly competitive. I’m excited for Ryan. I’m predicting Ryan to have a big year.”
The Yankees now hope that prediction comes true in the Bronx rather than Miami.
Rotation needs forced Cashman’s hand
The Yankees face a difficult pitching situation heading into 2026. Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon will both miss Opening Day while recovering from elbow surgeries. Clarke Schmidt could miss the entire season after Tommy John surgery last July.
That leaves Max Fried as the clear ace. Cam Schlittler, Will Warren and Luis Gil round out the healthy options. Weathers now slots into that mix, providing depth the Yankees desperately need.
The financial commitment stays low. Weathers and the Marlins settled on a $1.35 million salary last week. He remains under team control through the 2028 season at the earliest. He also has one minor league option remaining, giving manager Aaron Boone flexibility.
Trade grades split on the deal
Analysts gave the Yankees a B+ grade for acquiring Weathers. The upside is real. The stuff is electric. But the injury history creates significant risk.
Miami received an A- grade. The Marlins prioritized position players and got four of them. Lewis profiles as the gem of the package with his power and center field defense.
The Athletic offered a different perspective on the trade philosophy.
“This is less about adding a starter to fill out the rotation and more about acquiring a candidate for their player development group to try to help, given the success they’ve had over the last few years with improving pitchers’ arsenals.”
Father-son connection adds history to the deal
Weathers is the son of David Weathers, who pitched 19 seasons in the majors. The elder Weathers joined the Yankees from the Florida Marlins at the 1996 trade deadline. He contributed 11 strong postseason innings that October, helping New York win its first championship since 1978.
Ryan becomes the fifth father-son pair to play for the Yankees. Coincidentally, his path to the Bronx followed the same trade route his father took nearly 30 years ago.
The connection adds a layer of nostalgia. But ultimately, the Yankees need production, not sentiment. Weathers must prove he can stay on the mound long enough to justify the steep price Cashman paid to acquire him.
Only time will reveal whether this gamble pays dividends or becomes another cautionary tale about trading prospects for potential.
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