On January 14, 2026, the New York Yankees finally made the kind of splash their fans had been waiting for all offseason. With their rotation battered by injuries and their World Series aspirations hanging in the balance, the Yankees pulled off a significant trade, acquiring 26-year-old left-handed pitcher Ryan Weathers from the Miami Marlins. In exchange, New York sent a package of four prospects—outfielders Dillon Lewis and Brendan Jones, and infielders Dylan Jasso and Juan Matheus—down to South Florida. The move, first reported by YES Network’s Jack Curry, marks the Yankees’ first major external addition since their elimination from the ALDS 97 days ago.
For the Yankees, the need for pitching depth couldn’t be more urgent. With ace Gerrit Cole still recovering from Tommy John surgery, and both Clarke Schmidt and Carlos Rodón expected to start the 2026 season on the injured list, New York’s rotation was looking downright threadbare. Max Fried and newcomer Cam Schlittler are set to anchor the top of the rotation, but the back end was a patchwork that needed immediate reinforcement. Enter Ryan Weathers—a pitcher with tantalizing upside but a checkered injury history.
Weathers, the son of former Yankees reliever David Weathers, brings five seasons of MLB experience to the Bronx. Originally drafted seventh overall by the Padres in 2018, Ryan has shown flashes of his first-round pedigree, but his big league development has been hampered by injuries. In 2025, he was limited to just eight starts due to forearm and lat strains, but when healthy, he posted a 3.99 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP, walking just 12 batters over 38.1 innings. His 28.8 percent whiff rate and 44.8 percent ground ball rate hint at a pitcher who can keep hitters off balance and induce weak contact.
Weathers’ arsenal is built around a mid-90s four-seam fastball, which he threw 45 percent of the time last season. He complements it with a sweeping slider and a changeup that sits 10 to 15 mph below his heater, occasionally mixing in a sinker and another breaking ball. According to Baseball America, “He’s shown flashes of the potential San Diego saw out of him as an amateur, but his big league development has been stunted by an inability to stay healthy.”
Injuries aside, there are reasons to believe Weathers could become a steady contributor for New York. His fastball velocity has ticked up over the past two seasons, peaking at 96.8 mph in 2025. He’s under team control through 2028 at affordable arbitration rates, giving the Yankees flexibility and cost certainty as they navigate the coming seasons. He also has a minor-league option remaining, providing even more roster flexibility if the rotation gets crowded when the injured starters return.
“Weathers will provide a boost to a Yankees rotation that will likely begin the season without Gerrit Cole (elbow) and Carlos Rodón (elbow),” Bryan Hoch reported on Twitter. The Yankees are counting on Weathers to hold down a spot in the rotation, at least until the cavalry returns. FanGraphs projects him as the team’s No. 4 starter, behind Fried, Schlittler, and Will Weaver, with Luis Gil rounding out the group. It’s not the most intimidating rotation in the league, but it should keep the Yankees afloat in the early going.
Of course, acquiring a young, controllable lefty like Weathers doesn’t come cheap. The Yankees had to part with a quartet of intriguing prospects, headlined by Dillon Lewis. Lewis, 22, was a 13th-round pick in 2024 but quickly blossomed into one of New York’s most exciting minor leaguers. He split 2025 between Single-A and High-A, slashing .237/.323/.446 with 22 home runs, 79 RBIs, 72 runs scored, and 27 steals. His 107.7 mph 90th percentile exit velocity puts him in elite company, and his speed and defensive instincts make him a strong candidate to stick in center field. Still, he’ll need to refine his approach at the plate to reach his full potential.
Brendan Jones, 23, is another speedy center fielder who swiped 51 bases across High-A and Double-A last season while posting a .359 OBP. Known for his sharp routes and defensive prowess, Jones was the first player in Kansas State history to become a finalist for the Rawlings Gold Glove award. He projects as a second-division regular who can create havoc on the bases and add value with his glove.
Dylan Jasso, a 23-year-old third baseman, was signed as an undrafted free agent out of New Mexico JC in 2023. He’s a contact hitter with some pop—putting up a .726 OPS in 127 Double-A games last season—and offers versatility across the infield. While his defense is considered fringe-average, his bat could carry him to a utility role at the next level.
Finally, there’s Juan Matheus, a 21-year-old infielder who stole 40 bases in 2025 and posted a .779 OPS in High-A. Matheus is praised for his range and instincts, though scouts remain skeptical about his offensive upside as he climbs the minor league ladder. Still, with solid speed and defensive skills, he could carve out a future as a bench contributor or utility man.
For the Marlins, this deal fits their philosophy of building from within and maximizing value through player development. Miami isn’t known for splashing big on free agents, so adding four mid-tier prospects—each with a shot to contribute at the major league level—could pay dividends down the road. “If even a couple of these prospects hit and become regular contributors at the MLB level, that’s a win,” one analyst noted.
On the Yankees’ side, the trade received a lukewarm grade of C from several outlets. While Weathers has the tools and pedigree to stick in the rotation, his durability remains a major question mark. He’s never started more than 18 games in a season, and the Yankees are banking on his ability to stay healthy and provide stability until their stars return. The cost—four promising prospects—was steep, but with outfield depth already a logjam in New York, it was a price the front office was willing to pay.
As spring training approaches, all eyes will be on Weathers as he dons the pinstripes, hoping to write a new chapter in his family’s Yankees legacy. For the Marlins, the influx of young talent could reshape their roster in the coming years. The stakes are high, and the impact of this trade will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike as the 2026 MLB season unfolds.
For now, the Yankees have plugged a glaring hole in their rotation, while the Marlins have added depth to their farm system. Whether this deal pays off for either side remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: the hot stove in the Bronx is finally heating up.
