Mets' obsession with Yankees just got more personal as free agency deal nears

Over the course of the past calendar year, the New York Yankees seem poised to lose Clay Holmes, Devin Williams, and Luke Weaver to the crosstown Mets. All three spent their final year in the Bronx absorbing abuse, including insults heaved from Mets fans in their direction. Weirdly, those same fans immediately justified all three signings.

Holmes converted from a closer to a starter after joining the other side, an ambition that Weaver also brought into his free agency cycle. As Chris Kirschner's Tuesday report noted — citing mutual interest between the Yankees and Weav's camp — none of the 10 teams that had discussed a new deal with him this offseason viewed him the same way.

Of course, though ... rumored "mutual interest" be damned, it's the Mets. It's always been the Mets. It's the Mets at two years and $22 million for another former Yankee who showed flashes, then receded. It's the Mets trying to prove a point. It's the Mets trying to "change their culture" by bringing in someone else's culture from down the street. It's the Mets trying to rebut the "little brother" allegations by collecting all of the big brother's familiar faces on the outs.

Weaver will follow in the footsteps of middling successes (at best) in Holmes, Luis Severino, and Adam Ottavino, and will hope to avoid the specter of Frankie Montas' contract, which is hanging over the Mets at all times like a Katz's salami.

Yankees seem poised to lose Luke Weaver to New York Mets. Whoa, who could've seen this coming?

The Yankees aren't laughing here — or, at least, they shouldn't be. Weaver's pre-hamstring injury FIP (and pre-mechanical issues production) was in line with his 2024 breakout. Bringing him back would've been an uninspiring bullpen choice, but the Yankees are running out of options, especially after Philadelphia paid the same price for Brad Keller.

Still, it's tough to get too busted up over formally losing a 2024 shooting star who we'd already reconciled would likely be gone as soon as the 2025 season ended. It's also tough to take losing Williams and Weaver to the Mets too harshly. After all, it's veering into "self-parody" territory. If you're leaving the Yankees and the Mets aren't into you, you should be very concerned. Your career might be over.