THE New York Yankees made a smart move last offseason by signing a journeyman pitcher Luke Weaver on one-year contract with club option for 2025 at just $2.5 million. With Weaver’s impressive performance throughout the season, the move has already paid off, making him one of the most electrifying assets in the team’s bullpen.

Weaver’s rise to stardom with the Yankees

Weaver made $2 million last season, becoming a reliable and dominant arm for the Yankees. His breakout year could also mean the end of Clay Holmes’ time with the team. Holmes, who is expected to have a much larger contract in free agency, has had moments of volatility that have at times proven problematic.

While Holmes finished the season with a respectable 3.14 ERA in 63 innings and made 30 saves, he also led the league in blown saves. Although he held a 2.25 ERA in 12 postseason innings, his role as closer eventually shifted to Weaver, who stepped up and recorded four saves with a 1.76 ERA in the postseason.

The Yankees exercised Weaver’s club option Friday night, securing him as their primary high-leverage bullpen option for the 2025 season.

Impressive stats reflect Weaver’s growth

Weaver’s 2024 season stats paint a picture of growth and newfound stability. In 84 innings, he posted a 2.89 ERA with a career-high 11.04 strikeouts per nine innings, a left-on-base rate of 79.4% and a ground ball rate of 36 .4%.

Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake played a significant role in revitalizing Weaver’s fastball and adjusting his windup, which contributed to his dominance on the mound. Finishing in the 94th percentile in whiff rate and 93rd in strikeout rate, Weaver has proven the ability to consistently generate swings and misses.

Opposing hitters managed just a .177 batting average against Weaver’s four-seam fastball, which he used 48.5 percent of the time with an average velocity of 95.7 mph. His changeup and cutter were equally effective, holding hitters to averages of .172 and .181, respectively. These improvements have solidified Weaver’s position as one of the team’s most reliable relievers, and his presence in high-leverage situations has solidified him as a vital part of the team’s bullpen. Yankees.

Future potential and possibility of expansion

With Weaver’s success in 2024 and his value as a positive influence in the locker room, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Yankees explore a contract extension to keep him in New York long-term. He has become an integral part of the bullpen’s core and his profitable salary fits well with the Yankees’ goal of maintaining a strong and affordable roster.

Moving away from Holmes and building the bullpen

Holmes’ departure would leave a hole in the bullpen, but Weaver’s emergence has shown that the Yankees can succeed by targeting undervalued weapons with refinement potential. As they look to further strengthen their bullpen, the Yankees will likely continue to look for pitchers who, like Weaver, can become reliable, high-impact contributors.