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 Expected To Be Activated And Start Wednesday
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Luke Weaver (forearm) is expected to come off the injured list to start on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pitching prospect Levi Stoudt is being brought up for a spot start on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays, which will allow the Reds to push Hunter Greene (leg) back to this weekend after he was hit by a comebacker in his last outing on Monday. The 29-year-old Weaver has been recovering from a flexor tendon strain and will make his 2023 debut for the Reds after allowing three runs on three hits while walking four and striking out nine in nine innings over his two rehab starts with Triple-A Louisville. Weaver should stick in Cincy's rotation moving forward, making him valuable at least in NL-only formats.
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Luke Weaver (forearm) is throwing an extended bullpen Sunday. If all goes well, he will head out on a rehab assignment. Weaver could take a spot in the rotation, but he isn't worth owning even in the deepest of leagues. He pitched 35 2/3 and had a 6.56 ERA and 1.82 WHIP with a 20% strikeout rate.
Luke Weaver Scheduled To Throw An Extended Bullpen Sunday
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Luke Weaver (elbow) is scheduled to throw an extended bullpen session on Sunday. His next step in the process would be a rehab assignment, barring any setbacks. The 29-year-old righty has been dealing with forearm soreness that popped up during spring training but could join the Reds' rotation later this month. He put up a poor 6.56 ERA and 1.82 WHIP over 35 2/3 innings between the Diamondbacks and Royals last season.
The Cincinnati Reds signed free-agent right-hander Luke Weaver to a one-year deal worth $2 million on Friday. He will compete for a starting rotation spot in spring training. Weaver had a combined 26 appearances (only one start) last year and posted a 6.56 ERA (2.69 FIP), 1.82 WHIP and 20 percent strikeout rate over only 35 2/3 innings with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Kansas City Royals. The 29-year-old came to Arizona in 2019 in the Paul Goldschmidt trade. He had a career-best 2.94 ERA in 12 starts in his first year in the desert but hasn't been any good since. Weaver won't be particularly attractive if he wins a spot in Cincy's starting rotation, and if not he'll fill a relief role out of the bullpen. He can be ignored in mixed leagues in 2023.
