When the Athletics traded Mason Miller to the Padres at the deadline, it wasn’t just a blockbuster move-it was a seismic shift in the bullpen. Miller, one of the most electric arms in baseball, had become a rare bright spot for an A’s team still deep in its rebuild.
Sending him to San Diego brought back a major haul, headlined by top prospect Leo De Vries, but it also left a gaping hole in the late innings. Now, with the offseason underway, Oakland’s front office has a clear directive: reinforce the bullpen.
Enter Luke Weaver.
The veteran right-hander is reportedly on the A’s radar, and the fit is easy to see. Weaver, a free agent after two seasons with the Yankees, brings experience, versatility, and flashes of upside that could make him a sneaky value pickup for a team that isn’t likely to spend big this winter.
Weaver’s 2025 campaign was a mixed bag, but there’s more to the story than just surface numbers. He posted a 3.62 ERA across 64 appearances, going 4-4 with 72 strikeouts in 64.2 innings.
That’s solid production, especially considering he spent three weeks on the IL with a hamstring strain in June-a setback that clearly impacted his rhythm during the middle of the season. Even so, his 113 ERA+ suggests he was still an above-average arm when healthy.
For a bullpen that just lost its most dominant piece, that kind of stability matters.
Weaver isn’t a headline-grabbing name like Devin Williams or Edwin Díaz, and he’s not a flamethrower in the mold of Miller. But he’s 32, has pitched in big markets, and knows how to get outs. That’s exactly the kind of profile the A’s should be targeting: a veteran who can eat innings, handle high-leverage spots when needed, and maybe even mentor some of the younger arms coming through the system.
If Weaver does land in Oakland, it would mark his eighth big league stop since debuting in 2016. He’s bounced around-Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Royals, Reds, Mariners, Yankees-but in New York, he found a groove. His ability to pitch in different roles, from opener to middle relief to setup man, gives him added value for a team still figuring out how to structure its bullpen post-Miller.
The A’s aren’t expected to be serious contenders in 2026, but that doesn’t mean they can afford to punt on the bullpen. Games still need to be closed out, innings need to be covered, and young starters need support. Weaver could help check those boxes without breaking the bank.
So while the trade of Mason Miller was about the future, signing someone like Luke Weaver could help stabilize the present. It’s not flashy-but it’s the kind of move that makes sense for where the A’s are right now.