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By Jon Paul Hoornstra
Contributing Sports Writer
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The New York Mets lost closer Edwin Diaz in free agency, but have already invested in former New York Yankees closer Devin Williams as his ostensible replacement.
Why not add another Yankees closer in free agency while they're at it?
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According to multiple reports, the Mets are closing in on a contract with free agent pitcher Luke Weaver. Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported on Twitter/X that the deal will be for $22 million over two years once it's finalized.
The contract will not include option years or an opt-out clause, according to Sherman.
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Weaver, 32, went 4-4 with a 3.62 ERA in 64 games last season, recording eight saves. He went 7-3 with a 2.89 ERA in 62 games in 2024, his first full season with the Yankees.
Weaver went 4 for 4 in save appearances in the 2024 regular season, then went 4 for 7 as the closer in the postseason as the Yankees made it back to the World Series for the first time since 2009.
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The Williams-Weaver tandem not only allows the two pitchers to change teams without leaving New York, but it gives the Mets one of the more intimidating bullpen tandems in the National League.
Already this offseason, the price of relievers had reached a premium. The Atlanta Braves re-signed closer Raisel Iglesias in free agency, then signed All-Star reliever Robert Suarez to be their setup man.
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The Yankees, meanwhile, are set to enter 2026 with right-handers David Bednar and Camilo Doval manning the back end of their bullpen. Both pitchers were acquired at the 2025 trade deadline, and came with extensive closing experience from their previous stops in Pittsburgh and San Francisco, respectively.
The two-year, $22 million contract matches the terms of the contract Brad Keller reportedly got from the Philadelphia Phillies earlier Wednesday.
While the market for position players and starting pitchers has generally been slow to move, the offseason has been a busy one for closers. In addition to Williams, Weaver, Suarez, Iglesias and Diaz, longtime closers Kenley Jansen (Detroit Tigers), Ryan Helsley (Baltimore Orioles) and Jordan Romano (Angels) have found new homes in free agency.
More to come on this story from Newsweek Sports.
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