Luke Weaver, RHP
Position: Relief Pitcher Age: 32 (8/21/93)
2026 Stats: 2-1, 1.98 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 41 IP, 43 SO, 11 BB, 3 HR, SV, 2 BSV, 39 G
2026 Advanced Stats: 1.1 fWAR, 2.80 xERA, 212 ERA+, 2.84 FIP, 3.51 xFIP, 27.4 K%, 7.0 BB%, .152 BAA, .192 BABIP
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Rundown
Weaver hasn’t allowed an earned run since April 30, a span of 29 innings. He would be a good addition to any team looking for bullpen help in the playoff race.
Byron Buxton, who had homered on back-to-back nights against the Mets, faced Weaver on April 22 with two outs in the ninth and a runner on. New York led 3-2, and Weaver might have felt extra pressure because the team had lost 12 games in a row. He struck out the Twins All-Star on five pitches to end the game.
“Look, people smell fear,” he said when asked about going right at Buxton. “I’m not the biggest guy in the room, but I ain’t scared of nobody. And that’s the attitude I try to take, and if I screw up it’s on me, but at the end of the day, I’m going to sleep at night, and I’m going to feel good about the effort I put it, and I ain’t fearing nobody, you remember that.”
Coming off two good years in the Yankees’ bullpen, the Mets signed Weaver to a two-year, $22 million contract last offseason, and he will earn $12.5 million of that in 2027. He’s more than a rental, meaning the Mets could be looking for extra back in a trade. David Stearns also may not be inclined to trade Weaver since he could view him as a key piece to next year’s bullpen, as the Mets plan to compete in 2027.
Of the 22 relievers who have thrown as many innings or more than Weaver, only San Diego’s Mason Miller (0.86) and Jacob Latz (1.53) of the Rangers have better ERAs.
Potential Landing Spots
1. Mariners – Closer Andres Muñoz has blown five saves in 21 chances and pitched to a 4.19 ERA. Seattle hasn’t yet recaptured the magic of 2025, which saw them win 90 games, a division title and come within a game of the franchise’s first World Series appearance. The AL West is there for the taking.
2. Dodgers – The Edwin Díaz signing has not worked out, and L.A. won’t balk at Weaver’s contract. However, Tanner Scott has held down the closing role in Díaz’s absence, and the former Met is nearing a return after undergoing surgery for loose bodies in his elbow.
3. Pirates – The bullpen pitched to a 4.48 ERA in the first half, 23rd in MLB. (The Mets, FYI, ranked 15th at 4.01.) Closer Gregory Soto is 12-for-16 in save opportunities with a 4.05 ERA. The Pirates may balk at the contract, but maybe they’d look past it to improve their chances at making the playoffs for the first time since 2015.
