NEW YORK -- The Mets are adding another high-leverage arm to their bullpen. And it’s another face familiar to New Yorkers.
The team on Wednesday agreed to terms on a two-year, $22 million deal with right-hander Luke Weaver, a source told MLB.com. Weaver, who spent time setting up Devin Williams and also closing in the Bronx last season, will reunite with his old teammate in Queens. The club has not confirmed the deal, which is pending a physical.
Over the last two seasons, Weaver established himself as a solid late-inning reliever for the Yankees after spending most of his career as a starter. That made him one of the top relievers on the free-agent market this offseason.
Weaver's move to the bullpen in 2024 with New York sparked a breakout season for the right-hander. He made 62 relief appearances with a 2.89 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 84 innings, and he took over as the Yankees' closer down the stretch and during their postseason run to the American League pennant.
In 2025, Weaver served primarily as a setup man. Though he went through some ups and downs during the season -- particularly after a left hamstring strain sent him to the injured list in June -- Weaver still made a career-high 64 relief appearances with a 3.62 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 64 2/3 innings. He struggled in the postseason amid concerns he might be tipping his pitches.
The 32-year-old Weaver has now pitched 10 seasons in the big leagues. Seven of those 10 seasons have been primarily as a starting pitcher, which is the role Weaver held at the start of his career with the Cardinals and D-backs from 2016-21, and for most of 2023 with the Reds and Yankees (with a brief stint as a reliever for the Mariners in between).
In September, Weaver expressed openness to returning to a starting role in the future, depending on the team that signed him for 2026.
But his last two seasons as a full-time reliever have been, overall, much more successful than his time as a starter. In 106 career starts, Weaver is 25-42 with a 5.05 ERA, although he has struck out just over a batter per inning as a starting pitcher (521 K's in 520 innings).
Weaver, a first-round Draft pick by St. Louis in 2014, has pitched in 270 games for six teams throughout his career -- the Cardinals, D-backs, Royals, Reds, Mariners and Yankees -- with a 4.74 ERA and 746 strikeouts in 723 innings (9.3 K/9).
In addition to Weaver and Williams, the Mets have two returning left-handed setup men in A.J. Minter and Brooks Raley. The rest of the bullpen remains in flux following the departure of longtime closer Edwin Díaz.