Yankees bullpen battle heating up as Boone stays vague on closer
Yankees bullpen battle heating up as Boone stays vague on closer originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Aaron Boone isn't making a bold decision now. Or at least he isn't tipping his hand just yet.
With Luke Weaver activated ahead of the Yankees' series opener against the Orioles Friday night, the natural question is whether he'll reclaim his spot as the team's closer. Boone, however, made it clear Friday that no such decision has been made.
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Instead, he told reporters before the game that Weaver will be his closer 'on some nights.'
'We got two elite guys back there," Boone added.
Yankees reliever Devin Williams reacts after striking out three in the 10th inning against the Padres at Yankee Stadium.© Brad Penner-Imagn Images
That's a different tone than earlier in the season, when Weaver had emerged as the go-to guy in the ninth. The right-hander owns a 1.05 ERA in 25.2 innings and had locked down eight saves before hitting the injured list with a left hip strain on June 3. But while he was sidelined, Devin Williams stepped in — and stepped up.
Williams has converted five straight save opportunities since mid-May and has allowed just one earned run over his last 12.1 innings. After a rough start to the year, the right-hander has rediscovered his command and looked every bit the All-Star closer he was in Milwaukee.
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That leaves the Yankees with a 'good' problem to have and plenty for the New York media to speculate about.
For his part, Weaver had already put the idea that he would compete against Williams to rest.
With both pitchers healthy, the Yankees may opt for a matchup-based approach, at least in the short term. Weaver and Williams have different pitch profiles, and their availability may also factor in, especially with Weaver coming off the injured list after suffering a hamstring issue.
So, now it's a bullpen with two closers — and a manager keeping his options open. Or it becomes a daily drama for the New York media.
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With Weaver back and Williams dealing, the formula might change night to night. As long as the last out gets recorded, Boone isn't worried about the label.
Related: Who Should Be the Yankees' Closer?
Related: Luke Weaver Responds to a Potential Yankees' Closer Controversy
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
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