Wait, did the Yankees just... trade for a Marlins pitcher not named Sandy Alcantara? Honestly, that was the first thing through my head when the notifications started popping off. While the rest of the league is busy obsessing over where Cody Bellinger might land or if the Red Sox can actually close a deal for Ketel Marte, Brian Cashman decided to pivot.
On January 13, 2026, the New York Yankees finalized a deal to acquire left-handed pitcher Ryan Weathers from the Miami Marlins. To get him, they sent a package of four prospects down to South Beach.
If you're looking for the big "today" news on January 17, the dust is mostly settling from that Weathers swap, though the team just jumped headfirst into the international signing period. They’ve been scooping up shortstops like Germayhoni Beltre and catchers like Kenneth Melendez. But let’s be real. You want to know about the trade that actually shifts the 40-man roster and affects the win-loss column in April.
The Ryan Weathers Trade: Who Went Where?
Basically, the Yankees saw a massive hole in their rotation and decided they couldn't wait for Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón to get off the IL. They needed a body. A left-handed body with a pulse and a decent heater.
Here is the breakdown of the trade:
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- To New York: LHP Ryan Weathers
- To Miami: OF Dillon Lewis, OF Brendan Jones, INF Dylan Jasso, and INF Juan Matheus.
It’s a classic "depth for lottery tickets" swap. The Yankees get a guy who was a former top-10 pick (7th overall in 2018) and the Marlins get four kids who might—keyword might—turn into everyday big leaguers three years from now.
What the Yankees are getting in Weathers
Weathers is 26. He’s the son of David Weathers, who actually pitched for the Yankees back in '96. Kinda poetic, right? But the younger Weathers has been a bit of an enigma. Last year, he posted a 3.99 ERA in a handful of starts before his arm decided to take a vacation.
He’s got a five-pitch mix, including a four-seamer and a sweeper that occasionally looks unhittable. The problem? He’s never actually thrown more than 100 innings in a big-league season. He's brittle. But with Max Fried now leading the staff and Gerrit Cole sidelined, the Yankees aren't looking for an ace. They’re looking for someone to keep them afloat for 15 starts.
Why the Yankees gave up four players for one guy
You might look at "four prospects" and think Cashman got fleeced. Honestly, maybe. But look at the names. Dillon Lewis is the headliner here. He’s about 22 and can fly, plus he put up some decent power numbers in the low minors last year. MLB Pipeline had him ranked around 16th in the system.
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The other three—Brendan Jones, Dylan Jasso, and Juan Matheus—are more about specialized skills.
- Jones is a speed demon (69 steals last year!).
- Jasso has some "sneaky pop" at third base.
- Matheus is a young middle infielder who hasn't really filled out yet.
None of these guys were "untouchables." In the Yankees' eyes, these were chips to be cashed in for immediate pitching stability.
The Pitching Crisis in the Bronx
Let's talk about why this had to happen. The Yankees' rotation is sort of a mess right now.
- Gerrit Cole: Starting the year on the IL.
- Carlos Rodón: Also on the IL.
- Clarke Schmidt: Out for the year (Tommy John).
That leaves a rotation that looks something like Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Luis Gil, and now... Ryan Weathers. It’s not exactly the 1998 squad. Adding Weathers gives them a veteran (relative to the kids) who has one minor league option left. If he stinks, they can bury him in Scranton. If he’s good, they look like geniuses.
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Is there another trade coming?
The rumor mill is still churning. Today, the talk is all about the "stare-down" with Cody Bellinger. The Yankees reportedly offered him five years at $155 million, but he’s holding out for seven.
Meanwhile, rival executives are watching the Red Sox try to pry Ketel Marte away from the Diamondbacks. If that happens, the AL East is going to be a bloodbath. The Yankees might have snagged Weathers, but they still feel a bat short of being "scary."
What this means for your fantasy team (and the standings)
If you're a Yankees fan, don't expect Weathers to be a savior. Think of him as a high-upside bridge.
Next Steps for the Yankees:
- Secure the Outfield: They need to finish the Bellinger saga or find a pivot.
- Watch the Waiver Wire: Expect them to add another veteran arm on a minor-league deal before pitchers and catchers report.
- Health Check: Everything depends on Cole and Rodón’s rehab timelines.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on how the Marlins use Dillon Lewis in Spring Training. If he starts raking, we’re going to be talking about how the Yankees "gave away the future" for a lefty with a 4.93 career ERA. But for now, it's a move for today.
The most important thing to do next is monitor the official MLB Transactions log over the next 48 hours. With the international signing period open and the "Hot Stove" finally reaching a boil, the Yankees are rarely done with just one move in January. Look for news regarding their bullpen depth, as several veteran relievers are still sitting on the market waiting for a call.