Early hiccups with the team on the field are not ideal, since areas were addressed in the offseason. However, mitigation situations may provide opportunities for players that were not exactly prioritized. New York Yankees Luke Weaver is one of those players.
The Yankees prioritized Weaver heavily in the postseason of 2024. This was a gutsy move, as Weaver did not occupy that role most of the season. The closer role belonged to Clay Holmes, who held it with success for a few years.
Holmes went on to display distrust while leading the league in blown saves. In the offseason, the closer role was on the shopping list, where Devin Williams was purchased in a trade.
Williams is up to a 10.00 ERA, recently down from an 11 and change. In nine innings pitched, he has a– -0.7 WAR, four saves, one blown save, and a .316 batting average against.
The Yankees believe that time heals all, so Weaver temporarily replaces Williams in the closer role this early.
Weaver’s insertion into the role holds huge implications for present and current considerations. This could be a huge break in his career, as his future relevance and status are expendable.
Weaver’s Future Could Be Enhanced With Establishment in the Role
The Yankees reliever is currently on a club option, paid $2.5 million for this season. He also carries incentives this season with an inning-based target. 100 innings pitched gets him an extra $3 million, 120 innings get him $4 million, 140 innings get him $5 million, and 160 innings get him $6 million.
Being moved to the closer role could disrupt the amount of innings he could see, as he’ll be capped to one or two innings per outing or every other outing. He could see the average of two to four innings as a generic long or short reliever.
The monetary value is a great incentive, however, there is a bigger incentive. The first goal for Weaver is to up his stock value as a reliever or closer. Free agency comes into play after this season.
The Yankees right-hander will be looking for an opportunity at the year’s end, regardless of his role. To maximize compensation, Weaver will need to put up numbers and express his value.
His Closer Experience Could be in Demand
Closers are hard to come by; the role is trial and error. Weaver has already succeeded in a short term stint as the Yankees closer. He’s now enduring another short, possibly temporary stent, hoping Williams recovers.
The importance of his success in this role is to push the Yankees to offer an extension, with the intention of him being the closer or the set-up man. Secondly, he could be used as collateral in a trade-deadline situation.
Weaver could see himself in a Phillies situation if the Yankees are not in contention. Phillies closer Jordan Romano has caused anxiety in their bullpen. The club may seek another option if it is in postseason contention.
In the worst-case scenario, when Weaver enters free agency, his stock as both a set-up man and closer will be in question at the negotiation tables. This will provide leverage to obtain at least a three-year contract with a club, employing him until he’s 34 years of age.
Weaver currently has 10 years of MLB service time. His current statistics sit at 12 games, 14 innings pitched, five games finished, 14 strikeouts, five walks, 30 batters faced, and a 0.00 ERA.
Games finished and games saved statistics will be huge in gunning for another late-inning role elsewhere in the league, if not in the Bronx. The right-hander is clearly trusted by Aaron Boone and management to be placed in such a circumstance.
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