Ryan Weathers says the New York Yankees were never on his radar until the Miami Marlins made the call

Ryan Weathers instantly grasped the significance of the call. Joining the New York Yankees is steeped in history, and for him, it holds personal significance as well. Miami’s choice set him on a journey similar to what his father experienced, transforming an ordinary day into something that felt more profound than just baseball. The timing intensified the moment.

Weathers was still concentrating on getting his body back in shape after yet another injury-plagued season. Out of the blue, he found himself receiving calls from the Yankees' management and coming to terms with the fact that his name was now linked to one of the toughest stages in the sport. This transition ties together the past and the present, but it also brings up some serious questions.

Ryan Weathers admits the New York Yankees were not on his radar

Weathers shared the detailed timeline of what happened with reporters, stating, “I had just finished up my bullpen, and I got back to the house — I have like a little travel sauna. I literally probably had sat on my couch for about two seconds and I got a phone call from Peter Bendix that I had been traded.”


This call kicked off his move to the Yankees, a team he confessed he hadn't really considered before. After getting the news, Weathers chatted with Yankees GM Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone, saying, “I talked to Cashman, talked to Boonie. It was just pure shock.”

He further elaborated on his disbelief, telling reporters, “I just couldn’t believe that the New York Yankees were a team that I could ever have a chance to play for.” The trade caught him off guard, as he had been focusing on recovery and preparation following an injury-plagued 2025 season.

David Weathers recalls being traded from the Florida Marlins

The trade is really meaningful because of Weathers' family ties to the Yankees. His dad, David Weathers, was a pitcher who came to the Yankees through a trade with the Florida Marlins at the 1996 trade deadline and played a part in their World Series win that same year. Ryan Weathers pointed out the similarities, telling reporters in New York on January 15, 2026, “We’ve had weird, similar paths to New York, having both been with the Marlins, then going to the Yankees.”

David Weathers remembered his trade experience, sharing with reporters that he was in the Dodger Stadium bullpen when Marlins manager Rene Lachemann called him on the bullpen phone to talk to general manager Dave Dombrowski.

He told reporters that his teammates, including Kevin Brown, Al Leiter, John Burkett, and Robb Nen, wished him good luck, mentioning, “Hey man, good luck. You're going to win a World Series ring,” which proved accurate.

David Weathers found out about his son's trade while he was watching a basketball game at Loretto High School in Loretto, Tennessee, where he also coaches baseball. He mentioned to reporters that a friend came up to him and said, “I think Ryan’s been traded to the Yankees,” to which he responded, “Well, if he has, I hadn’t heard anything about it.” Not long after, his phone buzzed with a call from Ryan. When Ryan makes his debut with the Yankees, they'll be the fifth father-son duo to play for the team, joining names like Yogi and Dale Berra, Clay and Cody Bellinger, Mark Leiter and Mark Leiter Jr., and Ron Davis and Ike Davis.

David Weathers also shared his perspective on watching his son pitch, telling reporters, “It’s way tougher being a dad and watching your son pitch than being a pitcher. When he pitches, man, it is just like all day, it’s like I’m pitching. I’m thinking about what I would do, how I would attack these guys.”

Ryan Weathers missed most of the 2025 season with left flexor

Weathers had a rough 2025 season due to a strained left flexor that made him debut on May 14, followed by a left lat strain that sidelined him from June 7 to September 11. His personal best for innings pitched is 94⅔, which he achieved in 2021, and he hasn't hit the 100 innings mark in any season.

To address this, he focused on recovery, telling reporters, “This is the best I’ve probably felt in a year-and-a-half. I really did a dive and worked with company on figuring out how to lengthen my lat out, lengthen my back out. We really adjusted a lot of my lifting patterns. We really adjusted my mobility and my prep work, and I think my arm is reaping the benefits right now.”

He plans adjustments with Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake, stating, “We’re going to get into it more in the coming days, but it’s probably more of a usage adjustment, especially against left-handed batters,” and “I don’t feel like I’m utilizing my two-seamer as much, where it could open up the zone a little bit for my four-seamer and my sweeper.”

Miami Marlins acquire four New York Yankees top-30 prospects

In exchange for Weathers, the Marlins got four prospects who are in the Yankees' top 30 according to MLB Pipeline: outfielder Brendan Jones (No. 15), outfielder Dillon Lewis (No. 16), infielder Dylan Jasso (No. 23), and infielder Juan Matheus. Lewis, who is 22 years old and was a 13th-round pick in the 2024 draft, had a batting line of .237/.321/.445 with 22 home runs and 26 stolen bases at Class A in 2025, making him a significant target for the Marlins in earlier discussions. The Marlins focused on position players in this trade, which fits their rebuilding plan.

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