The Tuesday Discussion: Is It Time?

April 22, 2025

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This week we asked our writers the following:

Should the Yankees make Luke Weaver the closer?

Here are their replies:

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Ed Botti - My feeling on Luke Weaver is if he earned the trust to close playoff and world series games in 2024, which he did very effectively, I would have made him the closer in 2025. He earned it.

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James Vlietstra - Luke Weaver has undoubtedly been the Yankees best reliever for the better part of a year now. However, the Yankees acquired Devin Williams to be the closer. You don’t pull the plug on that less than one month into the season. He was viewed as the best reliever in the game just a few months ago, I see no reason to remove Williams and risk his psyche even more. In the meantime, continue using Weaver in the high leverage situations outside of the ninth. 

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Paul Semendinger - Goose Gossage didn't get his first save as a Yankee until his 8th appearance of the season (which wasn't until May) in 1978. By then he had lost two games and blown two saves. He then saved two games, and then blew another. he'd blow another game before May closed out. Devin Williams should be fine. In the meantimes, using Luke Weaver in big spots and to close out some games should always be an option. For now, let Williams and Weaver share the role.

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Derek McAdam - I think temporarily, this is the best move. But the Yankees shouldn’t necessarily make him the permanent closer. If he goes into a funk, maybe Williams is the hot hand at that time and can slide into the closer role.

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Mike Whiteman - I think the Yanks should continue with the current bullpen arrangement for now. Not so much for Williams - I think he'll be fine - but Luke Weaver has been so good, and so valuable in his role of an old school "fireman" who can give Aaron Boone an inning-plus in very high leverage situations.  

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Tim Kabel - I think it is far too early to remove Devin Williams from the closer’s role. It would be a panic move, and panic moves rarely work out. Luke Weaver only became a closer himself last season at the very end of the year. The Yankees acquired Devin Williams for a reason. They need to be patient and let him get back on track.

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NOTE - Cary Greene will have a deeper dive into this topic tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.