New York Yankees relief pitcher Luke Weaver had his 2025 club option exercised according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. This deal is valued at $2.5 million. During the regular season, the 31-year-old emerged as a key contributor in the Yankee bullpen as he held a solid 2.89 ERA and 0.93 WHIP across 84 innings of work. He generated strikeouts at an elite 31.1% rate. In the postseason, Weaver was deployed as the go-to option in the ninth inning as he tallied four saves with a 1.76 ERA and a 0.65 WHIP in 15 1/3 frames of work. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the Yankee bullpen in the offseason as Weaver could open the 2025 campaign as the clear ninth-inning option.
New York Yankees closer Luke Weaver finally had a bad showing this postseason, taking his first blown save in a 7-5 loss to the Cleveland Guardians in Game 3 of the ALCS. Weaver had been terrific before this game, allowing just one run in seven frames and converting all four of his save chances. Unfortunately, he threw one bad pitch to Jhonkensy Noel in this one, and Big Christmas took him deep. It was actually the first blown save of Weaver's entire 2024 campaign, and even though he only took over the full-time closer role in September, that is still impressive. He will continue to work as the Yankees closer and should have the team's full trust despite the tough outing.
New York Yankees closer Luke Weaver earned his fourth save of the 2024 postseason after a five-out appearance in Monday's 5-2 victory over the Guardians. The 31-year-old came on with one out in the eighth inning after three straight singles from Cleveland hitters, getting the next two batters out to end the rally. He then walked the first batter in the ninth, but struck out the next three, recording four strikeouts total and earning the save. Weaver has been excellent in the postseason, having yet to allow a run while posting a 0.50 WHIP and a 1:9 BB:K over six innings pitched. When you have designs on making a World Series run, this is just the type of dominance you need out of your closer. The Yankees lead the ALCS series 1-0 with the next game to be played Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.
Luke Weaver Continues Strong Postseason With Series-Clinching Save
New York Yankees closer Luke Weaver was back at it again on Thursday, shutting down the Kansas City Royals in the ninth inning of Game 4 to send the Yankees to the ALCS with a 3-2 win. Weaver threw a perfect frame with two strikeouts. The 31-year-old pitched in all four games of this series, allowing no runners to cross the plate and surrendering only two hits and zero walks over 4 IP in total. He has been excellent as the Yankees closer, and they will continue to use him heavily during this postseason run.
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that right-handed reliever Luke Weaver could close "a lot" of games but didn't exactly anoint him as the closer, saying "it may turn out that Luke comes into a spot in the sixth inning and gets four or five important outs when the game is on the line." Clay Holmes was recently demoted as the team's primary closer, and the 31-year-old Weaver has picked up two saves since then. In addition to his two saves, Weaver has been downright dominant with 16 strikeouts and only three walks in 7 1/3 scoreless innings since Holmes was demoted. He has been solid for the Yankees in 59 appearances out of their bullpen in his first full season with the Bronx, posting a 3.02 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 95 strikeouts and 26 walks in 80 1/3 innings. With the way he's been pitching of late, Weaver is probably the best bet for save chances down the stretch and into the postseason in October.
New York Yankees starting pitcher Luke Weaver (neck) won't make his scheduled start against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday. It appears the right-hander is dealing with neck stiffness, so the team will take a cautious approach here. The 30-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Yankees this past offseason. Weaver has struggled to establish himself as a legitimate starter at the big league level. He looks to make the team as a back-end starter, so hopefully he can get back on the mound soon.
Free-agent right-hander Luke Weaver and the New York Yankees agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal on Thursday, pending a physical, according to a source familiar with the deal. The contract includes a club option for 2025 and can max out at $8.25 million. Weaver wasn't very great in 2023 while posting a 6.40 ERA (5.61 FIP) and 1.58 WHIP with 40 walks and 109 strikeouts in 123 2/3 innings over 29 outings (25 starts) for the Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners and Yankees. The 30-year-old was most impressive in New York, though, allowing five earned runs while striking out 16 in 13 1/3 innings over his three starts in the Bronx. Weaver is going to be an option to round out the Yankees' starting rotation in 2024, but he's probably going to be a volatile fantasy arm in AL-only leagues.
Yankees Claim Luke Weaver Off Waivers From Mariners
The New York Yankees claimed right-hander Luke Weaver off waivers from the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday and moved left-hander Nestor Cortes (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move to open up a spot on the 40-man roster. The Mariners designated Weaver for assignment last weekend after he allowed nine earned runs on 16 hits (two homers) while walking three and striking out eight in 13 1/3 innings over five outings (one start) for them. The 30-year-old has posted a rough 6.77 ERA (5.75 FIP), 1.61 WHIP, 37 walks and 93 strikeouts in 110 1/3 innings over 26 appearances (22 starts) for the M's and Cincinnati Reds in 2023, so he's basically been well off the fantasy radar all year.
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Luke Weaver (arm) left his Tuesday start early after a comebacker hit him on the left arm, according to MLB.com. Manager David Bell told reporters after the game that X-rays came back negative, and there's a chance he'll make his next start, scheduled for Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. This news has little fantasy impact, as Weaver's been one of the worst starting pitchers this season, producing a 7.22 ERA and 1.63 WHIP with 64 strikeouts across 76 innings. Even if he avoids time on the injured list, fantasy managers should drop the 29-year-old if they haven't already.
The Cincinnati Reds activated right-hander Luke Weaver (forearm) from the 15-day injured list on Thursday, and he will start against the Pittsburgh Pirates in his season debut. In a corresponding move, right-handed rookie Levi Stoudt was optioned to Triple-A Louisville. Weaver is getting a late start to the season after dealing with right forearm inflammation in spring training. The 29-year-old mostly pitched in relief for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Kansas City Royals in 2022 and wasn't very good, posting a 6.56 ERA in only 35 2/3 innings. We wouldn't recommend using Weaver as a streamer in fantasy in his first start of the year. Stoudt's MLB debut didn't go very well on Wednesday, as he allowed seven runs on nine hits (one homer) in four innings against the Rays.
Luke Weaver
• RP
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Yankees
