Three New Yankee Experiments Already Failing

New York has spent considerable time and resources chasing high-upside yet unproven talent.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 1:33pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The New York Yankees have brought in several new players this offseason, but early results suggest these experiments are already failing. Pitchers Randy Weathers and Javier Chivilli have struggled mightily in spring training, while Mexican League MVP Alejandro Torres has been buried on the depth chart. With the team's championship window open, these unproven acquisitions are not helping the Yankees' quest to return to the World Series.

Why it matters

The Yankees are in win-now mode with Aaron Judge in his prime, so the team's inability to find immediate contributors from these high-risk, high-reward acquisitions is concerning. Fans are hoping these players can turn it around, but the early returns have been discouraging.

The details

Randy Weathers, a talented left-handed pitcher acquired from the Marlins, has struggled mightily in spring training, posting a 11.68 ERA in 12.1 innings. Javier Chivilli, a hard-throwing reliever obtained from the Rockies, has also been ineffective, allowing 11 runs in 8 innings before being sent to the minors. Meanwhile, Alejandro Torres, the reigning Mexican League MVP, has received limited opportunities and is just 1-for-5 this spring.

  • In the past five years, Weathers has never thrown more than 94.2 innings in a season.
  • Over the past five seasons, Weathers has compiled a 4.93 ERA in 281 innings.
  • In 12.1 innings this spring, Weathers has given up 16 earned runs on 23 hits, two hit batters and three walks.
  • In 90.1 innings over two years with the Rockies, Chivilli posted a 6.18 ERA.
  • In 8 innings this spring, Chivilli gave up 11 runs on 11 hits, a hit batter and two walks before being optioned to the minors.

The players

Randy Weathers

A talented left-handed pitcher acquired by the Yankees from the Miami Marlins in a trade.

Javier Chivilli

A hard-throwing reliever obtained by the Yankees in a trade with the Colorado Rockies.

Alejandro Torres

The reigning MVP of the Mexican League, signed by the Yankees as a free agent.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“No one can deny that Weathers is a talented lefty. His ability to blend a triple-digit fastball with a stunning arsenal of off-speed offerings is truly exciting.”

— Jacob Mountz, Author

“Given his lack of success and durability, it would seem the Yankees overpaid.”

— Jacob Mountz, Author

“This, coupled with his low strikeout rate from last season (15.6 percent), paints a discouraging picture.”

— Jacob Mountz, Author

What’s next

The Yankees will need to decide whether to stick with Weathers and Chivilli or look to make changes to their pitching staff as the regular season approaches.

The takeaway

The Yankees' offseason acquisitions of unproven talent like Weathers, Chivilli, and Torres have not paid dividends so far, raising concerns about the team's ability to capitalize on Aaron Judge's prime years and return to the World Series.