With 92-68, the Yankees are currently tied with the Blue Jays for the AL East lead. Even so, they’re sure of themselves heading into October. They’ve certainly traveled far to get here, considering they seemed worse off than the last-place Colorado Rockies at one point. Earlier this season, they even weighed the option of making their free agents-to-be available this summer. Somewhat like 2016, when the team was ready to both buy and sell before ultimately deciding to sell.

The Yankees were at their lowest in midseason this year, facing concerning offensive inconsistency, a beleaguered bullpen, and a stretch of frustrating losses. Around the same time, in July, their slump was paired with Aaron Judge’s injury scare.

While he was facing a possible Tommy John surgery, Brian Cashman and Co. were in early discussions of considering a blockbuster trade with the crosstown rivals.

They were close to dealing Trent Grisham for Brett Baty with the Mets, as per a league source. Apparently, the Mets were in dire need of a rental center fielder. And the Yankees required a third baseman they could keep long-term, and they liked that Baty bats left-handed.

That never materialized, though, as the Yankees ended up acquiring Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies before the deadline. Most notably, Judge’s injury was revealed to be a flexor strain rather than a UCL tear. That played a role in their decision not to go all-out in selling.

The front office continued to eye affordable upgrades. Before the deadline expired, the Yankees brought in David Bednar, Camilo Doval, and Jake Bird. Additionally, they got bench pieces like Austin Slater, Amed Rosario, and Jose Cabellero, who turned out to be a great replacement for Anthony Volpe.

This season, the Yankees have to get through the tiebreaker with the Blue Jays. Hopefully, their acquisitions will make a real difference because not all additions have clicked yet. However, as the season winds down, there is a possibility that the Yankees will lose one of their relievers.

Yankees could lose Luke Weaver after the latest developments

Earlier this week, during a recent interview with New York Post’s Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman, Luke Weaver made it known that he is looking for a role change. The Yankees hinted that he’d like to return to a starting role, as he is set for the free agency market after this season. Apparently, in free agency, teams offer more money to starting pitchers than to relievers.

It’s not yet certain what Weaver plans to do in terms of coming back to the Yankees. But it could create some problems. The Yankees have been through this before. Especially with Clay Holmes, who moved to Queens for the same reason.

That being said, Adam Weinrib on Yanks Go Yard offered his take on this situation recently. As he sees it, whenever the Yankees and Weaver have this conversation, the Yankees are likely to let him go.

“New York will probably decline to open the door for him to an altered role,” Weinrib noted. But there is one way out for this.

If the Yankees offer Weaver the money he is looking for, regardless of the role, the right-hander could be interested.

For the record, Weaver has served as a starter in his early days. He had made 21 starts with a 6.87 ERA for the Cincinnati Reds around two years ago. Since joining the Yankees, he has served as a reliever.

Now, in case things don’t work out between both parties, Weaver is likely to leave the Bronx.