Yankees Predicted to Keep Fan Favorite Amid Devin Williams’ Struggles

The New York Yankees, on paper, should have the best bullpen in Major League Baseball. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case, and there are a few reasons why. For one, Devin Williams hasn’t thrown the baseball the way the Yankees were expecting him to, and with their trade deadline acquisition, mainly with Jake Bird, there are a few questions about the Yankees moving forward. 

Fortunately, the team did what they had to do, landing Camilo Doval and David Bednar at the deadline, too. 

However, that could spell bad news for Yankees right-hander Luke Weaver. Since joining the Yankees in 2023, Weaver has been excellent for them and has been good once again for much of this season. He owns a 2.68 ERA and 49 strikeouts with a 0.81 WHIP. 

Many believe that he could return, despite the trade deadline moves, including Randy Miller of NJ.com, who recently spoke about some of his free agency decisions, noting that he’ll return to New York. 

“Age: 31 (32 on Aug. 21, 2025). Contract: Making $2.5M in club option year of one-year, $2M pact signed with Yankees on 1/11/24. Free agent after season. 2025 pitching stats: Yankees, 2-3 record, 2.68 ERA, 45 games, 47 IP, 25 hits, 16 runs, 14 ER, 7 HR, 13 BB, 49 K. Prediction: Re-signs with Yankees,” he added.

Will Luke Weaver Return to the Yankees?

Weaver dealt with a hamstring injury in the earlier stages of the campaign, but has bounced back nicely during August. For the New York Yankees, he’s thrown in 6.1 innings and has yet to allow a run. 

Despite that, Adam Weinrib of Fansided doesn’t think that what he’s done this year warrants enough for the Yankees to bring him back. He also noted some of the trade deadline acquisitions the team made, saying it could hurt them. 

“Everyone’s favorite ferocious Jungle Cat is also hitting free agency, and while his struggles and hamstring problems have defined portions of his season, Luke Weaver is still a wonderful asset and an incredible find by the Yankees,” Weinrib wrote. 

“We can’t rule out that there’s a world where he comes to Brian Cashman willing to take a hometown discount and wants to stick around. Unlike Williams, we can’t say the fate Weaver sealed is that he will be departing. But the Yankees have made it abundantly clear they don’t intend to allocate top dollar to the closer (or setup) position this offseason — and it’s probably financially savvy that they’re doing so. Weaver might be a Yankee beyond 2025, but it’ll take some tinkering and back-channeling.”

Have New York Already Replaced Luke Weaver?

Stephen Parello of FanSided had similar thoughts about the New York Yankees ‘trade deadline moves. It doesn’t mean that Weaver won’t come back, but there’s a good chance that the Yankees like what they have with Jake Bird, David Bednar, and Camilo Doval. If all three of them continue to throw the baseball at the level they have for much of their careers, there might not be much of a reason to give Weaver what he wants if he becomes expensive. 

“In addition to Bednar and Doval, the Yankees also acquired Jake Bird from the Colorado Rockies, who, despite some real performance question marks, is under team control through 2028.

“That all makes for a crowded bullpen mix moving forward, and if Weaver commands too much money on the open market, he’ll likely find himself suiting up elsewhere in 2026,” he wrote.

Bird was optioned earlier in the month, so there are questions about him, which could help Weaver.

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