Yankees' Aaron Boone makes big Ryan Weathers announcement after 11.68 ERA spring

Coming into the 2026 MLB season, the New York Yankees had some questions about their starting rotation. While there were a few locked into the rotation, like Max Fried and Cam Schlittler, there was a spot open at the back-end.

Carlos Lagrange, with a 0.66 ERA in spring training across four starts, was making a case for that spot. However, he was reassigned back to the minors, and instead, Ryan Weathers got some big news for his roster spot in 2026.

According to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch, the Yankees will be going with Weathers in their starting rotation to begin the season despite a rough end to his 2026 spring training.

Yankees officially name Ryan Weathers to starting rotation

"Ryan Weathers will be in the Yankees' starting rotation, Aaron Boone confirmed," Hoch reported after Weather's blow-up start Thursday.

Against the Toronto Blue Jays, Weathers struggled across three innings, allowing eight hits, seven runs, all earned, and giving up a grand slam to George Springer. But, even after such a rough outing, Boone still believes in Weathers.

Boone explained the decision, saying, "He's healthy, and the stuff is in line with where it needs to be. I don't put a lot of stock in numbers in spring."

More: Alex Cora announces Caleb Durbin is Red Sox starting third baseman

This spring, through four starts, Weathers is 1-3 with a brutal 11.68 ERA across 12.1 innings with a 2.11 WHIP and 17 strikeouts.

Weathers will likely become the fourth starter for the Yankees with this announcement from Boone. Behind Fried, Schlittler, and Will Warren, Weathers will begin the season as a core part of the rotation.

But, with Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon set to return at some point, Weathers might not have a clear spot in the rotation unless the Yankees make a change, suffer another injury, or go with a six-man rotation.

Weathers will get a chance to begin the year in the rotation, and while that could change in the future, for now, Boone isn't making a roster decision based on four outings to begin the spring.

More MLB news:

• Blue Jays sign Joe Mantiply to minor league contract
• Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki will return to rotation, not bullpen according Dave Roberts
• Konnor Griffin projected to make Pirates Opening Day roster by two analysts
• Joey Wentz is out for the season with a torn ACL for the Braves
• Reds’ Hunter Greene to be out until July amid brutal injury news
• Braves predicted to trade Bryce Elder for Lars Nootbaar
• Jesus Luzardo’s $135 million extension is a steal for Phillies