The New York Yankees have taken steps to bolster their pitching rotation by re-signing right-handed pitcher Luke Weaver to a one-year deal worth $2 million, with a reported option for 2025 that could increase the total value to $8.25 million. The agreement, although not officially confirmed by the team, was first reported by MLB Network insider Jon Heyman.
Who is Luke Weaver?
Weaver, 30, had a dynamic 2023 season, making appearances with the Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, and eventually the Yankees. Throughout 123 2/3 innings, he posted a 6.40 ERA, a 1.58 WHIP, and accumulated 109 strikeouts. However, his performance notably improved during his three outings with the Yankees, where he recorded a 3.38 ERA (4.46 FIP) with an impressive 16 strikeouts and just three walks in 13 1/3 innings.
The right-hander, a former first-round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2014 MLB Draft, initially debuted with the Cardinals in 2016 before being part of a significant trade in 2018 that sent him to the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of a deal for former MVP Paul Goldschmidt. Weaver’s standout season came in 2019 with Arizona when he achieved a 2.94 ERA in 12 starts covering 64 1/3 innings.
Weaver’s return to the Yankees adds depth to their rotation, which already boasts the likes of reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole and left-hander Carlos Rodon. Although the team is actively seeking a more high-profile free-agent starter, with reported interest in pitchers like Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, and Marcus Stroman, Weaver’s re-signing provides the team with a capable option for the fifth starter position. As of now, the Yankees’ rotation hierarchy includes Cole, Rodón, Nestor Cortes, and Clarke Schmidt, with Weaver in contention for the fifth spot.
The move signals the Yankees’ commitment to strengthening their pitching staff for the upcoming season. While Weaver’s statistics from the 2023 season may not have been stellar, his promising performance in a Yankees uniform towards the end of the season appears to have convinced the team of his potential value moving forward. The reported option for 2025 also suggests that the Yankees see a possible long-term role for Weaver within their pitching rotation.
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