Luis Gil’s last outing in pinstripes wasn’t exactly the stuff of postseason highlight reels. Yankees fans watched him get tagged for home runs by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk in a 10-1 drubbing to open the ALDS against the rival Blue Jays. It was a rough way to close the book on a season that never really got off the ground for Gil, thanks to a lat injury that kept him shelved until August.
But let’s not forget who we’re talking about here. Just a year prior, Gil was the American League Rookie of the Year.
That kind of recognition doesn’t come easy in a league stacked with young talent. And while his 2025 return was uneven - command issues flared up, and his ERA (3.32) outpaced his expected ERA (4.97) by a wide margin - it’s far too early to write him off.
Still, the noise started to build. Trade rumors began swirling when the Yankees were linked to Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta, and Gil’s name was floated as a possible piece in a potential deal. In the court of public opinion, fans were just about ready to pack his bags.
Then came the Ryan Weathers trade. And suddenly, it’s time to reevaluate how we’re valuing Luis Gil.
The Weathers Deal Says More About Gil Than You Might Think
To land Weathers from the Marlins, the Yankees gave up a pretty significant haul: four prospects, including two outfielders who were starting to climb the organizational rankings. Brendan Jones and Dillon Lewis, ranked No. 15 and No. 16 in the Yankees’ system by MLB Pipeline, both bring intriguing upside.
Jones has shades of Brett Gardner in his game - a blend of speed and sneaky pop - while Lewis is a toolshed with the potential to develop into a legitimate five-tool threat. Add in No. 23 prospect Dylan Jasso and a lottery ticket arm in Juan Matheus, and you’ve got a trade package that’s nothing to sneeze at.
Now, let’s talk about what the Yankees got in return.
Weathers, a 26-year-old lefty, has promise. But promise only takes you so far.
He’s never thrown more than 95 innings in a big-league season, and he owns a career ERA of 4.93. That’s not the kind of track record that typically demands a four-player return.
But this is where context matters - because this offseason, that kind of deal is becoming the norm.
The Market for Young Starters Is Booming - and Gil Fits the Mold
Look around the league. The Orioles gave up a sizable return to acquire Shane Baz, who, despite finally staying healthy in 2025, finished with a 4.87 ERA.
The Astros sent two of their top five prospects to Pittsburgh for Mike Burrows, a pitcher with fewer than 100 big-league innings. The Cubs?
They traded away their top prospect - the heir apparent to Kyle Tucker - as part of a package for Edward Cabrera, a talented but inconsistent arm who’s never topped 138 innings in a season.
None of those pitchers have the accolades or postseason experience that Luis Gil brings to the table. And yet, they’re all fetching premium returns.
Gil’s career ERA sits at 3.50. He’s already shown the ability to get outs at the highest level. And perhaps most importantly in today’s market, he’s under team control for three more seasons.
That’s the golden ticket right now. Teams are paying a premium for controllable arms, even if their resumes are filled with question marks. And if that’s the going rate for pitchers with ERAs in the mid-to-high 4s, then Gil - flaws and all - is a more valuable asset than he’s getting credit for.
Time to Reset the Narrative
It’s easy to focus on Gil’s rough ALDS outing or his shaky command down the stretch. But when you zoom out, the larger picture is clear: Gil is a young, talented, controllable starter in a league that’s desperate for exactly that.
The Yankees’ trade for Ryan Weathers didn’t just bolster their pitching depth - it inadvertently highlighted just how undervalued Gil has become in the eyes of fans and maybe even front offices. If Weathers is worth four prospects, including two potential risers, what does that say about Gil’s market value?
He might not be the ace of the staff, and he’s got work to do in terms of command and consistency. But let’s not forget: Luis Gil is still just getting started. And in today’s MLB, that makes him one of the more valuable chips the Yankees have - whether they keep him or not.