NEW YORK — Luke Weaver may have created a dilemma for himself and the Yankees.
During a podcast appearance with MLB Network insiders Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman, the 32-year-old reliever spoke openly about his future. Weaver’s comments seemed casual, but they carried major implications for his career in New York.
Asked if he would ever consider moving back to a starting role, Weaver said he would not close the door.
“I would say, look, the door is open,” Weaver said. “I am never going to just say ‘absolutely not.’ Like, ‘Hey, when the time comes, let’s talk about it. What does that look like?'”
Those words could change the direction of his free agency and put him at odds with the Yankees.
A reliever contemplates his roots
Weaver’s background lies in starting. He opened games for six seasons with the Cardinals and Diamondbacks before bouncing around the league. When the Yankees claimed him off waivers in September 2023, he was still viewed as a starter.
That changed in 2024. The Yankees moved him to the bullpen, where he thrived. By the end of the year, he was their closer during the run to the American League pennant.
His numbers told the story of how he proved everyone wrong. He delivered a 2.89 ERA across 84 innings with 103 strikeouts last season. This year, he has been even sharper, with a 2.60 ERA through 59 appearances.
“Being a starting pitcher, honestly, it’s gotta be the best job in the big leagues,” Weaver admitted. “But I’ve just found this niche. I’ve just found this ability to do something a little bit different and then use my background of starting and channel it into how I pitch now.”
Still, the appeal of starting again has not disappeared.
The Clay Holmes blueprint
One example looms large. Clay Holmes, Weaver’s former teammate, left the Yankees for the Mets and returned to the rotation. The Mets bet on him, and it paid off. Holmes has gone 11-8 with a 3.69 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 158.2 innings this season. He’s also 32, the same age as Weaver.
Other pitchers have followed similar paths. Garrett Crochet shifted from the White Sox bullpen to the rotation. Seth Lugo made the move in Kansas City. Former Yankee Michael King has succeeded with the Padres as a starter.
“It’s cool to see that it’s possible, too,” Weaver said. “We see it’s happening from time to time now. Teams are being a little more strategic. And yes, I’m very much open to it.”
The success of others proves the opportunity exists. But it may not be one the Yankees can give him.
The Yankees rotation puzzle
New York’s starting rotation looks full for years to come. General manager Brian Cashman rebuilt the staff after Gerrit Cole went down with Tommy John surgery.
Max Fried, signed to an eight-year, $218 million contract, anchors the group. Carlos Rodon has turned in his strongest Yankees season with 17 wins, a 3.12 ERA, and 180 strikeouts.
Rookie Cam Schlittler has impressed since his July debut, posting a 2.76 ERA. Luis Gil returned in August after an injury layoff. Will Warren has given reliable innings as another young arm. Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt are waiting for a return while the rookie aces are already making noise.
That depth leaves Weaver without a spot in the rotation. The Yankees need him in the bullpen, where he has become one of their most trusted arms.
The conflict emerges
This is where the tension lies. Weaver wants to explore starting. The Yankees need a high-leverage reliever.
Spotrac projects Weaver could earn a two-year, $20 million deal in free agency. That figure fits a proven late-inning pitcher. But if another team wants him as a starter, he could command more.
“But I also am not just like, ‘Yeah, I want to go do that,’ or ‘Yeah, I want to go do this,'” Weaver said. “Let’s sit at the table, let’s have a conversation and see what that looks like, what best positions me to be the most successful.”
The Yankees cannot offer him that choice. They already have their starters. They want him holding late leads.
A genuine desire to stay
Weaver has been clear about his feelings toward New York.
“Yeah, absolutely,” he said when asked if he wanted to stay. “It’s a place where you feel like, they always say, you pitch here, you can pitch anywhere. That simply has truth to it.”
He has pitched for six different organizations, but Yankee Stadium feels different.
“This place will always have a special place in my heart,” he said. “This is winning baseball, this is the peak.”
Yet if another club offers him a rotation role and strong money, he may have to leave.
The business of baseball
The Yankees exercised a $2.5 million option on Weaver last November after his postseason run. He has rewarded that decision with steady work in 2025.
Now free agency looms. At 32, this could be his best and only shot at a multi-year payday. Teams will view him as a former starter who reinvented himself as a dominant reliever. They may believe they can stretch him back out.
The Yankees, meanwhile, need him in the seventh and eighth innings. They need him bridging the gap to their closer in October. Both sides cannot have what they want.
What happens next
Weaver’s finish to the season will shape his market. Another strong postseason would only increase interest.
The Yankees will likely make an offer built on his role as a late-inning reliever. They’ll sell the culture, the success, and the chance to compete for championships.
But if Weaver’s heart is set on starting, another club will give him that opportunity. His comments have already placed that option on the table.
Whether he takes it could decide if his Yankees career ends not because of money or performance, but because of a role New York cannot provide.
What do you think?
