Having too much talent is a good problem. But it’s still a problem that needs solving. With closer Luke Weaver coming off the IL, the team has a pivotal decision to make. Manager Aaron Boone, however, views that as a chance for flexibility. He will “split the closer’s role” with Devin Williams, considering Weaver a “fireman kind of guy” who can be leaned upon “in a big spot in the seventh where you need to get an out.” But it was all theory, right!!! That flexible plan was immediately put to the test.
Weaver made his first appearance on June 20 in a game against the Orioles, coming into a tie game to start the eighth. The result was disastrous. He quickly gave up a go-ahead home run to Ramón Urías, paving the way for a 5-3 Yankees loss. Before his injury, Weaver was dominant, recording a 1.05 ERA with eight saves. But that one fateful pitch now looms large over Boone’s plan.
On MLB Now’s “The Showdown,” analysts debated this very issue. Thad Levine argued forcefully for Devin Williams to keep the job. “I’m sticking with Devin Williams,” Levine stated, pointing to advanced stats. Levine believes Williams’ early struggles were statistically unlucky. He noted Williams’ abnormally low 55.9% left-on-base percentage this season, a number far below his career mark of 82%. That figure, combined with a high batting average on balls in play against him, suggests his performance was due for a positive correction.
Should Luke Weaver return to the closer role right away upon his activation?
Jake Peavy and Thad Levine weigh in on the #MLBNowShowdown. pic.twitter.com/V7NBnudDjx
— MLB Now (@MLBNow) June 20, 2025
Former pitcher Jake Peavy agreed, framing it from a player’s perspective. “I think Devin Williams has proven himself that he is now the guy that you traded for,” Peavy declared. Well, he has a very strong point after all. After a disastrous start to the season that saw his ERA balloon over 10.00 and led to his demotion, $8.6 million star Williams has been lights out. While Luke Weaver was injured, Williams converted all four of his save opportunities, posting a stellar 1.76 ERA in that span.
So, what about the formerly dominant Luke Weaver? The analysts had a clear role in mind for him. “Come back, be my setup guy,” Peavy advised. “Let’s roll with what you traded for.” The consensus was clear: Williams should be the closer, and Weaver should transition into a high-leverage setup role. But simply sliding Weaver into a setup role isn’t so simple. The Yankees’ bullpen is already a crowded, talented, and complex puzzle.
Deeper Yankees issues
Over and above the two closer candidates, the Yankees have a number of other strong arms in their bullpen. Fernando Cruz has been a strikeout machine in a set-up role. Jonathan Loáisiga and Mark Leiter Jr. have been consistent, reliable inning-eaters all season. To clear space for Weaver, the team optioned Jayvien Sandridge back to Triple-A, with the move an indication that the Yankees will rely on their most experienced pitchers down the stretch.
But this bullpen debate is really one piece of a larger, more concerning picture. The first-place Yankees have struggled and are 4-6 in their last 10. The offense, on paper quite potent, has been spotty. The team’s singular MVP, Aaron Judge, has been inconsistent. Aaron Judge, the team’s undisputed MVP, has seen his own performance dip. After posting a monstrous 1.251 OPS in May, his production fell in June as his strikeout rate nearly doubled from a manageable 23.1% to an alarming 41.3%.
The issues are bigger than an individual player. The pitching rotation behind aces Max Fried and Carlos Rodón has been shaky, and the team’s defense has cost them runs with a Defensive WAR of -1.2. This all contributes to the Yankees underperforming their Pythagorean expectation. Their 43-32 record is good, but it should be closer to 47-27 based on their run differential, a clear sign they are losing the close games they should be winning.
With the bullpen in flux and the team’s performance trending downward, the Yankees are at a critical point in their season. Can they solve their closer riddle and fix their bigger issues before their division lead disappears?
The post Yankees Wrestle With Luke Weaver Dilemma Amid $8.6M Superstar’s Inspiring Comeback appeared first on EssentiallySports.
