BREAKING: Yankees land lefty starter Ryan Weathers from the Marlins
I can confirm the Yankees have agreed to acquire left-handed starter Ryan Weathers from the Marlins today. Final terms are being worked through, and the deal is pending standard medical review. New York targeted a young, controllable arm, and they just got one with starting experience and real upside.
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Why the Yankees moved now
This is a move about innings and projection. The Yankees needed another rotation option behind their top arms, and they wanted a lefty who can grow with the staff. Weathers checks those boxes. He is in his mid 20s, he has major league starts under his belt, and he is under team control for several seasons through arbitration.
The front office has been clear about building a deeper staff. They want to avoid the pitching holes that can sink a summer. Weathers gives them a starter who can compete in camp, cover bulk innings, and slide to long relief if needed.
He also fits the clubhouse. He is the son of longtime big leaguer David Weathers. He understands the grind. He has been on a postseason mound, at age 20, and did not flinch. That matters in New York.
Who is Ryan Weathers
Weathers was the seventh pick in the 2018 draft by the Padres. He rose fast and debuted in the 2020 postseason. He was later dealt to Miami, where he continued to log starts and work on his pitch mix.
The pitch mix and the plan
Weathers brings a fastball that can touch the mid 90s, a firm slider, and a fading changeup. The changeup is a key equalizer against right-handed hitters. The slider can miss bats when it tightens late. The fastball plays best when he stays on the edges and works north and south.
The Yankees believe they can sharpen those edges. Their pitching group has helped arms find better shapes, better locations, and cleaner plans. Expect more four seamers at the top of the zone, a slider with a clearer finish, and a changeup that shows up more often in fastball counts. Simple tweaks, big gains.
Weathers’ path forward is built on strike one, elevated heaters, and a changeup he trusts against righties.:::
Where he fits in the rotation mix
This is classic competition. Weathers will walk into spring with a real shot to claim a back end job. If he does not win it, he profiles as a swingman who can cover starts, piggyback, or keep the bullpen fresh.
New York values flexibility. They will look to protect their top arms, then use depth to absorb the rest. Weathers gives them a left-handed look that can change a series. He can follow a hard thrower and change speeds and shapes. That keeps hitters off balance.
- What the Yankees get right now:
- A lefty starter with major league innings
- Multiple seasons of cost control
- A usable three pitch mix, with room to grow
- Rotation depth that can shift to long relief
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The Yankee fit, on the field and off it
Yankee Stadium can be tough on lefties who miss arm side. The short porch punishes mistakes. The counter is command to the glove side and a confident changeup. Weathers has both tools, they just need to show up more often. If he lives at the top with the fastball, then drops the slider under bats, he will steal strikes and limit damage.
The human piece matters too. Weathers carries big league bloodlines and a calm mound presence. He has taken his lumps and kept going. That plays in a market that demands answers every night. If the Yankees unlock a tick more life and sharper aim, the crowd will feel it. So will the division.
important
Deal is pending a physical, with final details still being completed. We will update when terms are official.:::
What this says about the Yankees
This move sends a clear message. The Yankees are not waiting for pitching to sort itself out. They want choices in March, not questions in May. Weathers gives them a live arm, a lefty angle, and a project they believe in. Their track record with pitchers is strong. Think about how Nestor Cortes found a lane, how other arms built tools that stuck. That is the model here.
It is not a splash, it is a smart bet. A young starter with the frame, the pedigree, and the time to pop. A staff that values detail, data, and trust. Put them together and you get a move that can win you games in the long months ahead.
Baseball is about solving problems before they start. Today, the Yankees solved one. They found an arm with upside, cost control, and the guts for a big stage. Now comes the work, and the race to carve out a role. Keep an eye on Weathers this spring. The next step is right in front of him, and the runway in New York is wide open. ⚾
