Luke Weaver, the new Mets reliever and former Yankees closer, addressed the questions surrounding his arrival at Port St. Lucie carrying a Yankees bag. His decision to bring the bag was purely logistical and not a sign of lingering allegiance, he clarified, as he begins his tenure with the New York Mets.
On The Show podcast with Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman from The Post, Weaver remarked,
“I thought it was a bit silly, personally. I understand why people are — I wouldn’t say an uproar, but why they’re talking about it. I get it. To your point, it’s very common to bring your old bag to your new team. They don’t first-class airmail a new bag, so I didn’t get a new bag from the Mets, like a duffle bag.”
This explains that his choice was simply practical rather than symbolic.
He added,
“I just personally didn’t have like, besides grocery bags or something, I just didn’t really have anything to put my stuff in. Part of me is like, yeah, I don’t necessarily want to take the Yankees bag because I’m not a Yankee, but I know this is just a normal process.”
Weaver’s remarks highlight that carrying over equipment from a former team is typical during offseason transitions, even if it triggers conversations when it crosses city rivalries.
Context Behind the Attention to Weaver’s Yankees Bag
The reaction to Weaver’s Yankees bag was amplified due to the intense Mets-Yankees rivalry, making the situation more noticeable than it might have been with other teams. While it might have passed unnoticed if Weaver had shown up at camps for teams like the Reds or White Sox, the New York rivalry stirred chatter.
Bringing old-team gear when joining a new club is not unusual in professional baseball. For example, ex-Met Max Scherzer appeared at Blue Jays training camp last year carrying a bag from his former team, the Texas Rangers. The intersection of equipment and team loyalty often elicits fan and media interest, especially in markets where rivalry runs deep.
Weaver can now count on a full complement of Mets gear, dispelling notions his loyalty remains with the Yankees. As he assured,
“I just need people to take a deep breath, know that I love the Mets now. I’m a Met. I love where I’m at. I love the teammates so far, I hope to win as many trophies as possible here, and I hope to do that with the fans behind us and rooting for me and doing so.”
Weaver’s Transition from Yankees to Mets
At 32, Luke Weaver left the New York Yankees after more than two seasons to ink a two-year, $22 million contract with the Mets. His 2024 campaign showed promise, with a 2.89 ERA marking a breakout season as a reliever following earlier struggles as a starter. However, Weaver’s performance declined in 2025, culminating in a disappointing postseason.
He starts the 2026 season positioned as a bridge reliever, expected to support Mets closer Devin Williams, who also joined the Mets after leaving the Yankees. Weaver confirmed that the Yankees showed little interest in re-signing him, making the Mets the “perfect situation” for his next chapter. He said,
“It was basically a perfect situation to come to the Mets. Obviously, we see what the rest of the offseason built for them and there’s a lot of high hopes and strong vibes going on early in camp.”
Significance of Weaver’s Move and Expectations Going Forward
Weaver’s move from the Yankees to the Mets not only reinforces the active player movement between the city’s rival teams but also highlights the strategic shifts within the Mets’ bullpen. With a fresh opportunity, Weaver aims to contribute effectively towards the team’s success and connect with Mets fans. His candid clarifications about the bag controversy serve to quell any doubts about his commitment to his new team.
As the 2026 season unfolds, attention will remain on how Weaver fits within the Mets bullpen and whether his performance rebounds to meet or exceed his 2024 standards. The scenario also reflects broader trends of player transitions in Major League Baseball, where equipment and allegiance sometimes intersect in public perception but rarely affect professional intent.
Luke Weaver hits on dumb bag controversy here. He bleeds orange/blue, so no worries! Luke, a bff of The Show, talks free agency, more in full pod. Joel/I answer viewer questions
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Spotify: https://t.co/BmD0ogp7mz pic.twitter.com/r4Npr66gTf— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 11, 2026
Luke Weaver arrives in Port St. Lucie pic.twitter.com/DAs7VHuoRD
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) February 9, 2026
