Yankees exercise $2.5M option on Luke Weaver

The New York Yankees are bringing back their new relief ace, exercising a $2.5-million club option on right-hander Luke Weaver, the team announced Friday.

Weaver joined the Yankees as a waiver claim from the Seattle Mariners last September before the club re-signed him on a $2-million contract as a free agent. He came to New York amid ongoing struggles as a starter, but a solid showing down the stretch in 2023 prompted the team to convert him into a reliever.

The move paid off for both, as Weaver became a critical bullpen weapon for the Yankees. In 62 regular-season appearances, the 31-year-old put up a career-best 2.89 ERA with a 0.93 WHIP, 103 strikeouts, and four saves. A late-inning workhorse, Weaver's 84 innings ranked third in the majors among qualified relievers.

Weaver's success continued into October, when he took over as the AL champions' closer and most important reliever. He tallied a 1.76 ERA with 16 strikeouts and four saves during the Yankees' run to the World Series and was often called upon for multi-inning appearances.

With Clay Holmes now a free agent, Weaver should have the inside track to win the Yankees' closer job in 2025.

Weaver owns a lifetime 4.85 ERA and 1.37 WHIP with 674 strikeouts (9.2 K/9) across 658 1/3 big-league appearances between six teams.