The Yankees could make a few unexpected moves this winter, acquisitions designed to improve their roster for 2025. What they did on Friday night will go down as one of the least surprising moves they’ll make all winter long. The Yankees exercised their club option for reliever Luke Weaver.
Not only are the Yankees bringing their closer back after a breakout season and a gutsy postseason run, but the cost to do so is a bargain. Weaver will make $2.5 million in 2025 after earning $2 million this year.
His contract for 2024 was an incentive-laden deal. If he ended up in the Yankees’ rotation he could’ve made more money, but transitioning into the bullpen kept him from reaching certain benchmarks in innings and games started. Weaver posted a 2.
89 ERA this year across 84 innings this year, the most by any relief pitcher in the American League. He took over as the Yankees’ closer toward the end of the regular season — recording four saves in September — and then continued to blossom in that role in October. He had a 1.
76 ERA across 12 outings in the playoffs, finishing eight of those games — Weaver got more than three outs in eight of those 12 appearances. All signs point toward Weaver entering next season as the Yankees’ closer. There are a few other players that have options the Yankees can pick up for 2025.
First baseman Anthony Rizzo also has a team option for 2025. If the Yankees don’t want to bring him back — or prefer to renegotiate his contract rather th.
