New York

Yankees

The deal, which was agreed to back in late December, is finally official. Blackburn returns to New York as a versatile swingman capable of making the occasional spot start while gobbling up multiple innings in relief. The 32-year-old veteran posted a pedestrian 4.39 FIP, 1.51 WHIP and 34/12 K/BB ratio across 39 innings over 15 appearances between the Mets and Yankees this past season. He can be safely ignored in all fantasy formats.

The trade is now official. Weathers has shown flashes of big-time potential, recording a strong 3.74 ERA — 4.26 FIP — 1.21 WHIP and 117/36 K/BB ratio across 125 innings for the Marlins over the last two seasons. The 26-year-old southpaw has been limited to just 24 starts during that span due to injuries, including forearm and lat issues that cost him nearly five months this past season. He’s an interesting gamble for the Yankees — and a speculative late-round dice roll in fantasy leagues — as a high-upside rotation arm with Gerrit Cole coming off Tommy John surgery and Carlos Rodón working his way back from an offseason elbow procedure. He projects as a high-velocity impact reliever if they decide to move him to the bullpen at some point in the future. Meanwhile, his departure from Miami removes another obstacle from the path of top pitching prospects Thomas White and Robby Snelling.

The clear headliner in the four-prospect return for Miami, Lewis possesses the ultra-rate ability to make consistent hard contact without striking out at astronomical rates. The 22-year-old center fielder slashed .237/.321/.445 with 22 homers and 26 steals in 527 plate appearances between Low-A Tampa and High-A Hudson Valley this past season after New York made him a 13th-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. He’s a name to monitor in keeper and dynasty formats as he ascends to the upper minors.

Jones hit .245/.359/.395 with 11 homers and 51 steals in 549 plate appearances over 124 games between High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset this past season. The speedy 23-year-old center fielder was New York’s 12th-round selection in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Kansas State University.

It would be unfair to label Jasso as merely a throw-in but he’s the least exciting fantasy-wise of the four prospects heading to Miami in this deal. The 23-year-old corner infielder doesn’t offer any elite tools but he showed well in his first taste of the upper minors this past season, hitting .257/.326/.400 with 13 homers and one steal in 537 plate appearances for Double-A Somerset.

Matheus doesn’t offer a ton of in-game power right now, but he’s flashed an impressive blend of plate skills and speed while working his way through New York’s system. The 21-year-old middle infielder hit .275/.365/.376 with three homers and 40 steals in 520 plate appearances over 123 games between Low-A Tampa and High-A Hudson Valley this past season.

Craig Mish of the Miami Herald adds that outfielders Dillon Lewis and Brendan Jones and infielders Dylan Jasso and Juan Matheus are heading to the Marlins in the deal. Weathers has shown flashes of big-time potential, recording a strong 3.74 ERA — 4.26 FIP — 1.21 WHIP and 117/36 K/BB ratio across 125 innings for the Marlins over the last two seasons. The 26-year-old southpaw has been limited to just 24 starts during that span due to injuries, including forearm and lat issues that cost him nearly five months this past season. He’s an interesting gamble for the Yankees as a high-upside back-end rotation arm with Gerrit Cole coming back from Tommy John surgery and Carlos Rodón working his way back from elbow surgery. Meanwhile, the Marlins continue clearing the flotsam and jetsam from their rotation mix with top pitching prospects Thomas White and Robby Snelling on the precipice of the big leagues.

That goes along with what The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty reported last week. Bellinger is currently holding out for seven years, but one would think a sixth season might be enough to persuade him. He lost one suitor when the Cubs came to terms with Alex Bregman, but that still leaves the Mets, Dodgers, Jays and others. At this point, he might be best off waiting to see which teams miss out on Kyle Tucker.

Olney’s report comes on the heels of The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty noting earlier this week that the Yankees and Bellinger remain far apart on the length of a potential deal. The 30-year-old slugger has been connected to more than a half-dozen clubs — including the Mets, Dodgers, Giants, Phillies, Blue Jays, Angels and Reds — since the offseason began. It increasingly sounds like he’s headed elsewhere, with Olney adding that the two sides are at an impasse in negotiations, despite the Yankees’ efforts to bring him back.

Kloffenstein didn’t reach the majors with the Blue Jays after coming over from the Cardinals last offseason. The 25-year-old former third-round pick made one relief appearance for the Cardinals back in 2024 and posted a lackluster 6.30 FIP and 23.9 percent strikeout rate across 82 innings over 19 appearances at the Triple-A level this past season. He’s a low-risk depth addition for the Yankees.