The New York Mets are in the process of finalizing a two-year, $22 million contract with free agent reliever Luke Weaver, according to multiple reports. Joel Sherman of the New York Post first reported the deal, while Will Sammon of The Athletic confirmed that an agreement is in place pending a physical. Weaver is represented by Excel Sports Management. Because the Mets’ 40-man roster is currently full, a corresponding roster move will be required before the signing can be officially completed.
The terms of Weaver’s contract mirror the two-year, $22 million deal recently agreed to by division rival Philadelphia Phillies and right-hander Brad Keller. Like Keller, Weaver transitioned from starting pitching to relief work and found renewed success in a high-leverage bullpen role with a major-market contender.
Weaver, who is 32, spent the past two-plus seasons pitching out of the Yankees’ bullpen, emerging as a dependable late-inning option. While a rough stretch late in the 2025 season pushed his ERA up to 3.62, his overall body of work in New York has been strong. Since joining the Yankees late in the 2023 season, Weaver posted a 3.22 ERA across 162 relief innings, striking out 29.4 percent of batters while walking just 7.5 percent. During that span, he recorded 12 saves and 43 holds, failing in only four save or hold opportunities. With this signing, the Mets now employ Weaver, Devin Williams, and Clay Holmes—three pitchers who handled the bulk of the Yankees’ highest-leverage innings during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, though Holmes has since moved into a starting role.
Originally selected by the Cardinals in the first round of the 2014 draft, Weaver debuted in St. Louis’ rotation in 2016 and showed promise as a starter during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. He was later traded to the Diamondbacks as part of the deal that sent Paul Goldschmidt to St. Louis. In 2019, Weaver appeared poised for a breakout, posting a 2.94 ERA with strong strikeout and walk rates across 12 starts before a forearm injury prematurely ended his season. That injury marked the beginning of a difficult stretch, as shoulder and elbow problems derailed his time in Arizona. From 2020 through 2023, Weaver pitched for five different teams and struggled to a combined 5.95 ERA.
His final stop during that stretch came with the Yankees, where he impressed enough in three late-season starts to earn a $2.5 million major league contract the following offseason that included a club option for 2025. That deal turned out to be a bargain for the Yankees and a turning point for Weaver, who rebuilt his value as a late-inning reliever. The Mets’ agreement represents the largest contract of his 12-year professional career. Despite reports of interest in a reunion, the Yankees were not involved in bidding for Weaver, according to Sherman.
Although Weaver had previously expressed openness to returning to a starting role if given the opportunity, that does not appear to be the Mets’ plan. MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo reports that Weaver will slot into the bullpen, and there has been no indication that New York intends to stretch him out as a starter. The final price of the deal aligns closely with preseason expectations, as MLB Trade Rumors projected a two-year, $18 million guarantee for Weaver earlier in the offseason.
The Mets’ bullpen struggled in 2025, finishing with a collective 3.93 ERA that ranked 15th in the majors. Performance worsened late in the season, with relievers posting a 4.18 ERA across August and September as the team fell out of contention. The group was further depleted by free agency, as Edwin Díaz, Tyler Rogers, Gregory Soto, Ryan Helsley and others departed and signed elsewhere.
New York has moved quickly to rebuild the bullpen, signing Devin Williams earlier in the offseason and now adding Weaver. Both pitchers will join holdovers such as A.J. Minter, Brooks Raley, Huascar Brazobán and others, with additional bullpen moves still expected.
With Weaver’s contract assumed to be evenly distributed over two seasons, RosterResource now projects the Mets’ payroll at approximately $305 million, with a competitive balance tax figure near $307 million. Because the club has exceeded the luxury tax threshold in at least three consecutive seasons, it faces the highest penalty tier. The top threshold for 2026 sits at $304 million, meaning the Mets will be taxed at a 110 percent rate on any additional spending beyond that point.
The Mets still have significant work to do this winter. According to Sammon, the club continues to pursue a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher and an offensive upgrade. Those additions could come via free agency or trade, with several players—including Jeff McNeil, Kodai Senga, David Peterson, Mark Vientos, Ronny Mauricio and Luisangel Acuña—frequently mentioned in trade discussions. For now, the signing of Weaver represents a market-priced move to stabilize and strengthen the bullpen.
