Aaron Boone is glad to have Luke Weaver back in the Yankees bullpen, but the manager made it clear the closer role will now be “shared” with Devin Williams — meaning there won’t be a single go-to closer for New York.
“On some nights, he will be,” Boone said when asked if Weaver would close games. “I kind of look at, with him and Devin, we’ve got two elite guys back there.” With that, Boone confirmed he plans to rotate the two in high-leverage situations.
Boone also made it clear that Williams will still be a key part of the Yankees’ late-inning plans, saying he will “still close a lot of games.” It’s worth noting, however, that Weaver has been far more dominant statistically, trailing Williams by just one save (8 vs. 9) despite better overall numbers.
Who’s the better closer — Weaver or Williams?
Based on the numbers, it’s not particularly close. Even after spending time on the injured list, Weaver has posted a 1.05 ERA compared to Williams’ 5.27. Weaver has pitched in 24 games this season, while Williams has appeared in 31 — but it was Weaver’s strong start to the season that set the tone.
Devin Williams #38 of the New York Yankees reacts after he is pulled from the game in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on April 25, 2025 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Toronto Blue Jays defeated the New York Yankees 4-2.
In fact, every other Yankees reliever has better numbers than Williams, including Tim Hill, who owns a 2.53 ERA and has been more reliable over more innings despite not holding a full-time closer role.
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So why does Boone want Williams sharing the role with Weaver?
The reasoning remains unclear, as Boone didn’t elaborate. But it could be tied to Williams’ recent surge: since May 2, he’s recorded 7 holds, 2 wins, and 5 saves — numbers that may be keeping him in the mix.
