The New York Yankees might have landed a star pitcher this offseason in an under-the-radar move.
The Yankees acquired Ryan Weathers from the Miami Marlins to help bolster their rotation, but he’s predicted to be even better than expected. MLB analyst David Adler of MLB.com predicts Weathers will have a season similar to Bryan Woo of the Seattle Mariners.
“Who’s the 2026 version of Bryan Woo? (A surprise standout in a talented rotation) The pick: Ryan Weathers, Yankees,” Adler wrote. “The Mariners’ starting rotation is loaded. With Logan Gilbert, Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Bryce Milled and Woo, who was the surprise breakout of the bunch in 2025. Emerging as Seattle’s No. 1 and a top-five Cy Young finisher.
“The 2026 Yankees rotation should be similarly talented — Gerrit Cole will eventually be back, and Carlos Rodón, and there’s already Max Fried and Cam Schlittler and Luis Gil and Will Warren. But now there’s also Weathers, whom the Yankees just traded four prospects to acquire. Weathers is the type of high-upside arm who could steal the show in the Bronx. The 26-year-old is one of the hardest-throwing lefty starters in the Majors. He’s got a nasty sweeper and changeup, and based on his pitch profile, his closest comps are Luzardo, Tarik Skubal and Garrett Crochet.”
If Weathers can be similar to Woo, it would be a massive addition to the Yankees’ pitching staff. Woo went 15-7 with a 2.94 ERA in 30 starts last season as he was a key part of the Mariners success.
So, if Weathers can even be somewhat close to that, it’s great news for the Yankees’ rotation, which needed some help.
Weathers Admits He Was Surprised By Trade
The Yankees were looking to add to their rotation and filled it by trading for Weathers.
Although Weathers was surprised by the move, he said he was glad it was to the Yankees.
“I had just finished up my bullpen. And I got back to the house, I have like a little travel sauna,” Weathers said. “I literally probably had sat on my couch for about two seconds. And I got a phone call from Peter Bendix that I had been traded. … I just couldn’t believe that the New York Yankees were a team that I could ever have a chance to play for.”
Weathers had been an impact pitcher for the Marlins. He believes this is the best he’s felt and has been playing in his career.
“This is the best I’ve probably felt in a year-and-a-half,” Weathers said. “I really did a dive and worked with company on figuring out how to lengthen my lat out, lengthen my back out. We really adjusted a lot of my lifting patterns. We really adjusted my mobility and my prep work, and I think my arm is reaping the benefits right now.”
Weathers went 2-2 with a 3.99 ERA in just 8 starts last season.
New York Wasn’t Certain They Add a Pitcher
The Yankees have some injuries to the rotation as Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon will miss the beginning of the season.
However, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the team didn’t need to add a pitcher, despite many thinking they had to.
“Not necessarily,” Boone said. “We’ll see how the winter unfolds. I feel like we’re in a pretty good spot.”
Yet, the Yankees did acquire Weathers to bolster their rotation.
Yankees New Addition Compared to 2.94-ERA Star in Bold Prediction