Luke Weaver’s Transition to the Mets
Luke Weaver hasn’t quite moved on from his past with the Yankees.
The former Yankees closer, now with the Mets, stirred some conversation by arriving in Port St. Lucie with a Yankees bag. He clarified that it was just a temporary arrangement from the offseason.
“I personally thought it was a bit silly,” Weaver shared during a podcast with Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman. “I understand the buzz, but honestly, why is it such a big topic? It’s common for players to bring old gear to their new teams. They don’t exactly ship out brand-new bags for every transfer. That’s why I didn’t get a fresh one from the Mets.”
“Truthfully, I didn’t have anything else to carry my stuff in, aside from maybe a shopping bag. There was a part of me that hesitated to sport a Yankees bag since I’m not a Yankee anymore, but, well, it’s just how these things go.”
If he had shown up at the Reds or White Sox camp with a Yankees bag, I doubt it would have raised any eyebrows. But the rivalry in New York definitely adds a layer of complexity.
Some found it surprising that he didn’t just get rid of his old Yankees gear. Yet, he’s not alone; many players have reported to new teams using their former team’s equipment.
Just last season, Max Scherzer, another former Met, entered Blue Jays camp with gear he received from the Rangers.
Weaver surely has a good amount of Mets merchandise to replace what he brought along from his time with the Yankees.
“I want everyone to take a breath and know that I’m really loving being a Met right now. I appreciate my teammates, and my goal is to win as many trophies as possible and earn the fans’ support,” Weaver stated. “So, the bag? It didn’t really signify anything.”
Now 32, Weaver departed from the Yankees after two seasons and signed a two-year, $22 million deal with the Mets.
He initially struggled as a starting pitcher, but he found his rhythm in 2024 with a 2.89 ERA. Unfortunately, his performance dipped in 2025, and the postseason was a disappointment.
As the 2026 season unfolds, he finds himself in a familiar role, acting as a bridge to closer Devin Williams, who also made the switch from the Yankees to the Mets.
Weaver admitted that the Yankees weren’t particularly keen on re-signing him before he made the move to the Mets. “It felt like the ideal situation for me to join the Mets,” he remarked. “Considering everything that’s unfolded this offseason, there’s an air of excitement and a positive atmosphere early in camp.”
