Luke Weaver it was a good Yankee.
In just two years, the right-hander has gone from being a journeyman starter picked up off waivers to one of baseball’s most reliable late-inning setup men.
After a strong finish to 2022, he was spectacular in his first full season in the Bronx, posting a 2.82 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with 103 strikeouts in 84.0 innings of work.
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He was able to build on that success to start last year, but ended up being forced to the sidelines and missing a significant amount of time with a lingering hamstring issue.
The 32-year-old would return to the mound ahead of schedule and was never quite able to get back into that dominant rhythm, struggling mightily down the stretch.
He was unusable during the playoffs, allowing five runs in three ugly appearances.
With his contract expiring this winter, the Yankees showed some interest in bringing him back, but ultimately decided not to extend him a free agency offer.
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After testing the free market, Weaver quickly found a new home across town, accept a two-year pact with crosstown rival Dishes earlier this week.
Although it’s a blow to the Bombers bullpen, Aaron Boone told reporters Friday he was happy to see him receive a nice little raise from his previous contract.
“He got a very good deal which he won,” the skipper said. “When we got him, it didn’t seem like a big decision at the end of the ’23 season – to become the reliever and the role he ended up having for us.
“He’s thrown a lot of really big games and productive games over the last couple of years – credit to him for going out there and making a little change in his career and it’s really paid dividends for him.”
Weaver finished with a 3.22 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 12 saves and 191 strikeouts in 129 appearances in pinstripes.
He will seek to do the same, this time preparing for Devin Williams in orange and blue.
