Matt Blake: Yankees’ Ryan Weathers Still Has Untapped Ceiling

This blog post digs into the New York Yankees’ recent efforts to beef up their roster. We’ll focus on their trade for left-handed pitcher Ryan Weathers and their search for free agents.

Let’s also touch on what these moves could mean for current players. Plus, there’s some big international news for one of their top relievers.

Yankees Bolster Pitching with Ryan Weathers Acquisition

The Yankees just made a splash, sending four prospects to the Miami Marlins for lefty Ryan Weathers. They’re clearly looking to shore up their rotation and take a chance on a young arm with real upside.

Ryan Weathers: A Promising lefty for the Pinstripes

Weathers is only 26, but folks see him as a bit of a hidden gem. Last year, he managed a 3.99 ERA in 38.1 innings and struck out 37 hitters.

Pitching coach Matt Blake has kept tabs on Weathers since his high school days. He’s genuinely excited, calling Weathers “an exciting arm.” Blake points out Weathers’ fastball, which stays around 97 mph and can really jump on hitters.

The Yankees want to bring Weathers along carefully this spring. Their plan is to keep him healthy and work on sharpening his pitches.

They’re especially interested in having him throw his two-seamer more. The idea is to set up his four-seamer and sweeper, and maybe unlock something special in his game.

Yankees Explore Further Free Agent Options

After landing Weathers, the Yankees aren’t done. They’re still scanning the free-agent market, and a few interesting names have come up.

Jon Heyman mentioned the team’s interest in several players. It sounds like the Yankees are looking at all angles to get better.

Free Agent Targets: Pitchers and Outfielders

For arms, they’ve reportedly shown interest in Nick Martinez and Michael Kopech. Both could add depth and give the staff some different looks.

On the offensive side, the Yankees have their eye on outfielders Austin Slater and Randal Grichuk. Apparently, New York made a big-league offer to Austin Slater, who’s known for hitting lefties well.

It’s a bit murky whether that offer still stands after another team signed Cody Bellinger. Slater’s 2025 with the Yankees was rough—he only played 14 games after a hamstring injury following his trade from the White Sox.

Bringing in Slater would crowd the outfield even more. That could mean fewer at-bats for Jasson Domínguez, who’s a pretty hyped prospect.

Doval Represents Dominicans in World Baseball Classic

In other news, Yankees reliever Camilo Doval got a big honor. He’ll pitch for the Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

That nod really shows how much respect Doval’s earned as a late-inning weapon.

Camilo Doval’s International Recognition

Doval’s selection is a big deal. It really puts his elite talent in the global spotlight.

He showed what he could do in the 2023 WBC. In just 2.1 innings, he didn’t allow a run and struck out three.

That kind of performance shut down hitters cold. Now, with him on the Dominican Republic’s roster, the tournament just got a little more exciting.

He’s a dominant arm and brings some serious energy. Honestly, he keeps building his reputation as a clutch performer—both for the Yankees and his national team.
 
Here is the source article for this story: Yankees news: Ryan Weathers hasn’t hit his ceiling, per Matt Blake