If the New York Yankees ever want to replace David Bednar as closer, they might already have a solution.
It certainly hasn't been an easy start to the season for New York Yankees closer David Bednar.
Yes, Bednar tossed an uneventful ninth inning in the Yankees' win over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night, allowing one hit in a single inning of work, but the veteran has been walking a tightrope all season.
Bednar currently owns a 1.76 WHIP, and his 2.60 K/BB ratio is hardly impressive.
So what will New York do if Bednar can't get settled? Will it go out and pursue a closer on the trade market? Or will it search for an internal solution?
Well, one potential option could be Ryan Weathers.
The Yankees acquired Weathers in a trade with the Miami Marlins back in January, hoping he would provide some depth to a starting rotation that was slated to be missing Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon to begin the season.
While Weathers has been up and down thus far, he lays claim to a 3.18 ERA and has racked up 36 strikeouts over 28.1 innings of work.
The 26-year-old had never been much of a strikeout artist in the past, but New York may have unlocked something with him.
New York Yankees pitcher Ryan Weathers. Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images.Weathers touches 97 mph with his four-seam fastball and features some nasty breaking stuff, and his control (eight walks thus far) has also been very solid.
Here's the thing: once Rodon and Cole both return (the former is expected to com back first), the Yanks will have to move two pitchers out of the starting rotation.
Weathers and Luis Gil are almost certainly the two arms who will be forced to move, and one of them will have to be dealt with soon with Rodon inching closer and closer.
The Yankees probably don't want to put Gil in the bullpen given his shaky command, so it would not shock me in the slightest if Weathers is the first to have a role change.
It might not be the worst thing in the world for Weathers, either.
Surely, the left-hander expected to be sent to the bullpen at some point, and he definitely has the stuff to be featured in a relief role ... potentially even as a closer.
He throws hard, his ball has terrific movement and he has more than adequate control.
Cole, Rodon, Max Fried, Cam Schlittler and Will Warren appear to be locks for the starting rotation, meaning New York will have to find a spot for Weathers somewhere.
If Bednar doesn't get his act together, Weathers could be coming for his job.
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