NEW YORK — The Yankees made their first significant move of the offseason on Tuesday. They acquired left-handed pitcher Ryan Weathers from the Miami Marlins. The deal cost New York four minor league prospects.
The trade carries a familiar connection. Weathers is the son of David Weathers, who pitched for the Yankees during their 1996 World Series championship run. Now, nearly three decades later, his son will wear pinstripes.
This deal comes at a crucial time for New York. The club faces rotation questions heading into 2026. Three key starters will miss Opening Day. The move signals that general manager Brian Cashman believes Weathers can help bridge the gap.
Yankees send four prospects to Miami
Miami received outfielders Dillon Lewis and Brendan Jones. They also acquired infielders Dylan Jasso and Juan Matheus. Three of those players ranked among the Yankees’ top 30 prospects.
Lewis was the prize of the package. The 22-year-old outfielder slashed .237/.321/.445 with 22 home runs and 26 stolen bases across two Class A levels last season. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that Miami evaluators were “particularly bullish” on Lewis.
Jones ranked 15th in the Yankees farm system. Jasso came in at No. 23. The Marlins prioritized position players in the deal, continuing their rebuild strategy.
A championship bloodline returns to the Bronx
David Weathers pitched 19 seasons in the majors. He threw for 11 different teams during his career. His stop in New York proved the most memorable.
The elder Weathers joined the Yankees from the Florida Marlins at the 1996 trade deadline. He contributed 11 strong postseason innings that October. Those performances helped New York capture its first championship since 1978.
Ryan becomes the fifth father-son pair to play for the Yankees. His path to the Bronx followed a similar trade route. Coincidentally, his father also came from Florida. The connection adds a layer of history to this deal.
Injuries have slowed Weathers’ rise through the ranks
Weathers went seventh overall in the 2018 MLB Draft. The San Diego Padres selected him out of Loretto, Tennessee. He was just 18 years old.
He spent 2019 in the minors. The pandemic wiped out his 2020 season. Then he made the Padres’ Opening Day roster in 2021 with only 114 professional innings under his belt.
Durability remains his biggest question mark. He has never made more than 18 starts in a season. That came during his rookie year with San Diego. Various injuries have limited him to just 24 starts and 125 innings over the last two seasons.
In 2025, a flexor strain and lat strain sidelined him. He made only eight starts for Miami. He finished with a 3.99 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 38.1 innings.
Raw stuff attracted Yankees pitching staff
The underlying numbers explain why New York pulled the trigger. Weathers ranked in the 86th percentile for fastball velocity last season. He averaged 96.8 mph from the left side. His heater touched as high as 99.6 mph during spring training.
His sweeper grades as an elite pitch. It generated a 51% whiff rate in 2024. That ranked among the best in baseball. The Yankees believe pitching coach Matt Blake can optimize his arsenal further.
Weathers also features a changeup that plays well off his fastball. The 13 mph difference between the pitches creates deception. He posts above-average walk rates, suggesting he knows where the ball is going.
“He’s improved his command and control since he was traded to the Marlins at the 2023 trade deadline,” The Athletic reported. “His sweeper is an above-average pitch, while his changeup might be as well.”
Rotation depth became a priority for New York
The Yankees face a difficult situation heading into spring training. Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon will both miss Opening Day. Both are recovering from elbow surgeries. Clarke Schmidt could miss the entire 2026 season after his Tommy John procedure last July.
That leaves Max Fried as the clear ace. Cam Schlittler and Will Warren round out the top three spots. Luis Gil provides another option. Weathers now slots into the mix as well.
The club also has Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn available for depth. Fried, Schlittler and Warren all threw career highs in innings last season. That workload factored into New York’s search for pitching help.
Low risk, high reward gamble for Cashman
The financial commitment stays minimal. Weathers settled on a $1.35 million salary for 2026 during arbitration with Miami. He remains under team control for three more seasons.
He also has one minor league option remaining. That gives manager Aaron Boone flexibility. If the rotation gets healthy, Weathers could shuttle between the Bronx and Triple-A.
“This is less about adding a starter to fill out the rotation,” The Athletic noted. “It’s 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.”
Yankees still exploring second base options
The Weathers deal does not close the door on other moves. Cashman continues listening to offers for Jazz Chisholm Jr. The All-Star second baseman enters his final year before free agency.
“He’s somebody who I think is currently part of the solution,” Cashman said at the Winter Meetings. “We will be open-minded.”
The Yankees also remain linked to free agent Bo Bichette. Trading Chisholm could help address other roster needs. It might also clear payroll space to sign Bichette as a replacement at second base.
For now, the Weathers trade gives New York needed pitching insurance. The son of a Yankees champion will try to help the organization capture another title. His father did it in 1996. Nearly 30 years later, Ryan gets his chance to follow that path.
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