25-05-2025
Yankees Predicted to Lock Up Shutdown Closer With $39 Million 'Market Price' Deal
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The New York Yankees built on their strong divisional lead with a blowout win against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday.
The team posted 13 runs in a reminder of just how potent their offense has been behind Aaron Judge this season, but the pitching staff has been surprisingly strong, too. Max Fried, Carlos Rodon and Will Warren have been filling in admirably with Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil sidelined. And Luke Weaver has stepped into the definitive closer's role as Devin Williams struggles.
After taking over high-leverage situations for Clay Holmes at the end of last season, Weaver has served as the most reliable bullpen arm for the Yankees so far this year. He has seven saves and 23 strikeouts with a 0.40 ERA in 11 games so far.
But Weaver is playing on a $2.5 million club option this season with a chance to become a free agent in the winter. As a result, Adam Weinrib of FanSided has urged the team to extend him, predicting that a $39 million deal would be enough to keep him off the open market.
BRONX, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 21: Yankees principal owner Hal Steinbrenner speaks during a press conference at Yankee Stadium on December 21, 2022 in Bronx, New York. (Photo by)
BRONX, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 21: Yankees principal owner Hal Steinbrenner speaks during a press conference at Yankee Stadium on December 21, 2022 in Bronx, New York. (Photo by)
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"And even if Weaver won't entertain a hometown discount for the Yankees, they should still be willing to meet market price for their Ferocious Jungle Cat," Weinrib wrote. "If he feels like he owes the Yankees something after they managed to uncover his true first-round talent, maybe he'll accept $9 million annually on a three-year, $27 million deal with escalators. At worst, this seems like a prime opportunity for the Yankees and Weaver to agree on something akin to Jeff Hoffman's contract in Toronto, a three-year, $33 million contract with incentives that could take it to $39 million."
The Yankees are traditionally hesitant to pay top-dollar for bullpen arms and have taken a homegrown approach to the relief corps in recent years.
But given the poor returns on their trade for Williams, they could see an extension for Weaver as a nice middle ground between hunting for the most expensive options on the market and taking a risk on cheaper but yet unproven options.
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