NEW YORK — The New York Yankees want Luke Weaver back. Weaver wants to return. So why is this reunion far from a done deal?
Because roughly 10 other teams want the 32-year-old reliever too. And unlike the Yankees, some of those clubs might be willing to pay premium dollar for his services.
According to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, both sides have expressed mutual interest in a potential return. However, talks between the Yankees and Weaver remain in the early stages. The right-hander is carefully evaluating every opportunity before making his next move.
“The Yankees have expressed ‘genuine’ interest in re-signing Weaver, according to a league source, and the 32-year-old reliever would be interested in rejoining New York,” Kirschner reported. “Talks between the Yankees and Weaver are not far along. The right-hander is weighing his options after about 10 teams have checked in on him this offseason.”
Dream of starting rotation appears dead
Weaver entered the offseason with one intriguing goal. He wanted to return to starting pitching after spending most of his career as a rotation arm.
That dream has quietly faded. According to multiple reports, no team has expressed interest in using Weaver as a starter. Every organization pursuing him views him strictly as a reliever.
This development actually helps the Yankees. The Bronx Bombers never considered moving Weaver back into the rotation. His value to New York always existed in the bullpen.
With elite closers like Robert Suarez and Ryan Helsley already off the market, Weaver suddenly stands as one of the top bullpen arms still available. That status has driven his market value higher than many expected.
Hamstring injury changed everything
The 2025 season started brilliantly for Weaver. He posted a microscopic 1.05 ERA through his first 24 appearances. He converted eight of nine save chances. Yankees fans saw him as their most reliable late-inning arm.
Then came June 1. Weaver strained his hamstring while warming up during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The injury landed him on the injured list for 17 days.
He returned a different pitcher. Over his final 40 appearances after the injury, Weaver struggled to a 5.31 ERA. The mechanical timing that made him so dominant never fully returned.
His postseason became a nightmare. Weaver faced seven batters in October and recorded just one out. Reports suggested pitch-tipping issues compounded his problems.
Full season numbers tell different story
Despite the rough ending, Weaver’s overall 2025 numbers remain impressive. He finished with a 3.62 ERA across 64.2 innings. He struck out 72 batters while maintaining a solid 1.02 WHIP.
Those figures followed his breakout 2024 campaign. That year, Weaver recorded a career-best 2.89 ERA over 84 innings with 103 strikeouts. He earned his first career saves and became the Yankees closer during their World Series run.
Over his two years in the Bronx, Weaver compiled a 3.22 ERA in 129 games. He transformed from a journeyman on his seventh organization into a legitimate high-leverage weapon.
Yankees bullpen needs serious help
The departure of Devin Williams to the New York Mets created a significant void. Williams signed a three-year, $51 million deal with the crosstown rivals in early December.
Without Williams, the Yankees bullpen looks thin. David Bednar projects as the closer after arriving via trade from Pittsburgh. Tim Hill, Jake Bird, Camilo Doval and Fernando Cruz round out the current relief corps.
Adding Weaver would provide a proven arm who knows the pressure of pitching in New York. His experience closing games during playoff runs holds real value for manager Aaron Boone.
Market value creates pressure
According to Spotrac, Weaver’s market value sits around two years and $19.8 million. MLB Trade Rumors projected a similar figure at two years and $18 million.
The Yankees historically avoid multi-year deals for free agent relievers. Their last such signing came in 2019. That reluctance could push Weaver toward another organization willing to guarantee more years.
General manager Brian Cashman sent mixed signals at the Winter Meetings. He appeared to lump Weaver with Williams when discussing departures. Yet reports now indicate genuine interest in bringing the reliever home.
Decision time approaches
The reliever market has moved quickly this winter. Most top closers already found new homes. Weaver represents perhaps the best remaining option for teams seeking late-inning help.
For the Yankees, losing both Williams and Weaver would leave their bullpen dangerously shallow. The combination of familiarity and need makes a reunion logical.
But with 10 suitors circling, the Yankees cannot assume Weaver will simply return. They must decide whether to exceed their typical reliever spending or watch him sign elsewhere.
The mutual interest exists. The question now becomes whether the Yankees will match the market to bring their playoff hero back to the Bronx.
Yankees fans remember what Weaver provided during the 2024 postseason. He converted all four save chances against Kansas City in the ALDS. He struck out five batters while allowing zero runs across four innings.
That version of Weaver would transform the Yankees bullpen. The organization must determine whether the second half struggles represent a correctable problem or a sign of decline.
Time is running short. Every day without a deal increases the risk that another team swoops in with an offer too rich to refuse. The Yankees face a simple choice. Pay the price or watch Weaver walk away.
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