A bold new forecast has fans reeling: a Yankees star could soon take on a shockingly unconventional role with the Padres..NL
The New York Yankees will be looking to upgrade their pitching after their bullpen and rotation faltered due to injuries and underperformance.
Luke Weaver, a key arm for the Yankees over the past handful of seasons, is one of the team’s more notable free agents hitting the market, given his consistency as a reliable pitcher.
Since joining the Yankees, Weaver has posted a 3.22 ERA over 162 innings, most of them in relief. He has racked up 3.0 bWAR in his 129 appearances, along with a 127 ERA+.
As a free agent pitcher among a lackluster crop of relief arms, Weaver should be in line for a multi-year commitment, especially since he is still relatively young at 31 years old.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 30: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Luke Weaver #30 of the New York Yankees in action against the Boston Red Sox during game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on September 30, 2025 in New York City. The Red Sox defeated the Yankees 3-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Weaver would help any team in the majors, especially contending teams that can always use quality arms out of the bullpen.
According to Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report, the San Diego Padres make sense as a potential suitor to move Weaver into the starting rotation, after the team lost Michael King and Dylan Cease.
“With Dylan Cease and Michael King both departing and Yu Darvish out for the season, the Padres will focus their offseason efforts on filling out the rotation, but don’t be surprised if they get creative,” Reuter wrote in his story.
“Luke Weaver has said he is open to returning to a starting role after finding success in the Yankees bullpen, while former D-backs prospect Jon Duplantier is an intriguing name to monitor after he logged a 1.24 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 128 strikeouts in 101.1 innings in Japan in 2025.”
The Padres have been successful with King, a reliever turned starter, and they are going to bank on Mason Miller potentially becoming a starter after moving to the bullpen with the A’s.
San Diego may also sign Weaver and push him to start once again, hoping to bolster a rotation filled with lackluster options. He may value the chance to start in San Diego over a relief role elsewhere, especially since there is higher earning potential down the line as a starter.
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