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Another former Yankees player might be what the NY Mets need to replace Luke Weaver

Replacing one ex-Yankee with another.
ByTim Boyle
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Jul 21, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Luke Weaver (30) delivers a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers in the seventh inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
Jul 21, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Luke Weaver (30) delivers a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers in the seventh inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

By trading Huascar Brazoban and Luke Weaver, the New York Mets vacated a pair of bullpen spots we thought for sure would be filled for the 2027 season. Both were under team control through at least 2027. The Mets have plenty of roster spots they can fill internally. The bullpen is a place where they need at least one experienced high-leverage capable arm.

Finding a replacement for Weaver is one of the theoretical upgrades the Mets need. Devin Williams remains the projected closer with the club needing some insurance. Adrian Morejon possibly getting a qualifying offer from the San Diego Padres could remove him from the equation as the Mets probably wouldn’t be willing to sacrifice two draft picks plus international bonus slot money just to pay him closer money to not be a closer.

An experienced and reliable right-handed reliever the Mets can turn to in the 7th or 8th inning is on the offseason to-do list. Yet another former New York Yankees player, Jonathan Loaisiga, is a name gaining steam.

Why Jonathan Loaisiga is destined to become a top Mets free agent target

The Mets have been interested in Johnny Lasagna before. A year removed from pitching for the Yankees, a team that at times seemed to bury him on the depth chart, he’s coming off of an impressive and elevated role with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Loaisiga didn’t load up on saves but finished 17 games for Arizona. Pitching to a 2.42 ERA with a 1.7 BB/9 rate and 54.3% ground ball rate, he did a lot of the same things he has done well throughout his career. Maybe most important was the durability. He pitched 67 innings in 67 games. It was only the second time in his career he crossed over 50 innings in a big league season.

A soft contact guru, his Baseball Savant page is bright red practically everywhere but strikeouts and whiffs. Making contact is the easy part of facing Loaisiga. Doing any sort of damage is the challenge. His 0.4 HR/9 rate showed that even when someone did get a hold of one, it rarely went for a four-base hit.

The Mets plucking former Yankees has been a regular theme in many recent offseasons. Loaisiga wouldn’t come directly from the Yankees, but he is known for Bronx pinstripes far more. 

When it comes to replacing Weaver, Loaisiga gives the Mets a master run preventer who won’t walk a lot of batters. Weaver has been a far better strikeout pitcher. A little overblown are the number of saves he actually had for the Yankees. He only had 12 in parts of three seasons.

The Mets love a bullpen where there’s variety. Loaisiga throws hard, but doesn’t blow batters away. Batters hit only .148 against his four-seamer that averaged 97.2mph. Reliant on his sinker more than any other pitch, he’s the kind of guy the Mets will ask the infield to aid.

Keeping the ball on the ground has long been a strength of Loaisiga. A lifetime 54.4% in a league that averaged 42.3% in that time period, it’s a given attribute that’ll be sure to interest the Mets.

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