The New York Yankees and New York Mets have a deep, historic rivalry in the Subway series, as the crosstown rivals always fight to be the best team in New York.
This offseason, there could be fuel added to the fire with Yankees' star Luke Weaver headed for free agency.
The veteran pitcher has spent the last three years with the Yankees, but is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and has hinted at a new home across town. Can the Mets steal the Yankees' star this summer?
Luke Weaver Hints at Mets
Weaver was interviewed on an episode of The Show: A NY Post baseball podcast with Joel Sherman & Jon Heyman on Sept. 17, and the Yankees' pitcher talked about his role as a pitcher and a former teammate of his.
Weaver started his career as a starting pitcher, and did so for eight years. Now, he's spent the last two years in New York as a reliever. However, Weaver is open to returning to starting pitching when he signs a new contract this offseason.
"Being a starting pitcher, honestly, has got to be the best job in the big leagues, especially when it’s going well," Weaver said. "But, I just found this niche, right? I just found this ability to do something a little bit different, and use my background of starting to channel it into how I pitch now."
Luke Weaver is reportedly "open" to rotation opportunities in free agency according to Joel Sherman, as he's set to hit the open market this winter.
— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) September 22, 2025
Would you bring back Luke Weaver as a starter?🧐#Yankees pic.twitter.com/qhCp4Haa37
Then the Yankees' reliever brought up his former teammate, Clay Holmes, who spent parts of two seasons with Weaver on the Yankees.
Holmes was a closer for the Yankees and then signed with the Mets in 2025 and transitioned to become a starting pitcher. Holmes' transition to a starter has gone well, pitching to a 3.69 ERA across 158.2 innings this year.
"To get to your question, I would say, the door is open. I am never just going to say, ’Absolutely not.’ When the time comes, let’s talk about it. Clay [Holmes] has done a great job this year in that transition," Weaver said. "I don’t know what people are saying, but I’ve watched from afar, and I’m proud of him. I think that’s a really cool thing that he’s done.
"The transition, I don’t think people truly understand, is that’s crazy. To do it as consistent as he has, I commend him."
Luke Weaver since the start of August:
— The Yankee Report (@YankeeReport_) August 19, 2025
9.1 IP
2 H
0 ER
11 K
.067 BAA
Back to being his lockdown self. pic.twitter.com/wXzPmck6lO
Weaver seems more than open to the transition back to a starting pitching role, and that may even be his preference. The Yankees transitioned Weaver into a reliever, so the likelihood they'd transition him back is not high.
However, the Mets turned Holmes from a reliever into a valuable starter for the club this season, so what's to say they wouldn't be open to doing the same for Weaver.
Plus, joining the Mets this offseason would allow the two Yankees to reunite across town with the Mets.
Two strikeouts for Clay Holmes in the inning pic.twitter.com/K5TTY2nzZ7
— SNY (@SNYtv) September 21, 2025
"It’s cool to see that it’s possible, too. We see it happening from time to time now," Weaver said. "Teams are being a little more strategic. So, yes, I’m very much open to it."
Weaver is an unrestricted free agent in 2025 and will have every option on the table, but the Mets seem to have a leg up on a lot for other teams at this point.