The Yankees didn’t exactly light up the offseason with blockbuster moves, but that doesn’t mean they stood still. While bringing back Cody Bellinger grabbed most of the headlines, there’s another move that could quietly end up shaping their 2026 campaign: the acquisition of left-hander Ryan Weathers from the Marlins.
New York sent four prospects to Miami, including promising outfielder Dillon Lewis, to land the 24-year-old starter. Now, as Weathers gears up for his first season in pinstripes, he’s already zeroing in on a key adjustment that could unlock another level in his game.
"Getting my four-seam fastball to the outer lane against righties, which is huge for my arsenal to establish the away lane."
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) February 6, 2026
Ryan Weathers reveals how he's working to improve his stuff ahead of his first season in pinstripes. pic.twitter.com/q1pz7FsxDq
In a recent interview, Weathers shared that he’s been working on commanding his four-seam fastball to the outer half of the plate against right-handed hitters - a subtle but potentially crucial tweak. “Getting my four-seam fastball to the outer lane against righties, which is huge for my arsenal to establish the away lane,” he explained.
It’s a small window into the kind of development the Yankees are betting on. Weathers has long had the tools - a solid fastball, a developing changeup, and a slider that flashes - but consistency and health have been the missing pieces. Now, under the guidance of pitching coach Matt Blake, he has a chance to refine his arsenal and find the swing-and-miss edge that’s eluded him so far in his young career.
That’s been a point of emphasis for the Yankees this winter: adding more strikeout potential to a rotation that, while talented, has seen its share of injuries and inconsistency. Weathers has never posted a strikeouts-per-nine innings rate over 10, but with Blake’s track record of maximizing pitchers’ strengths, there’s real optimism that could change.
The timing couldn’t be more important. With Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt all expected to miss time early in the season, the Yankees will lean on Max Fried - last year’s marquee free-agent signing - along with Weathers and a mix of depth arms to keep the rotation afloat in the early going.
Fried brings ace-level pedigree when healthy, but he too has had his battles with the injury bug. Same goes for Luis Gil, another arm with upside but a history of missed time.
That makes Weathers’ durability just as important as his pitch mix. He made only eight starts for Miami last season, sidelined by a couple of different injuries. If he can stay on the mound and give New York quality innings, it could be a game-changer - not just for the Yankees' early-season survival, but for Weathers’ own trajectory.
This isn’t just a depth move. The Yankees see something in Weathers - a lefty with upside, pedigree, and room to grow.
And if those mechanical tweaks start to click, this could end up looking like one of the savvier trades of the winter. For a team with championship aspirations and a rotation that needs reinforcements, Ryan Weathers might just be the right arm at the right time.