On a warm June evening in the Bronx, the New York Yankees found themselves facing a familiar test: how to stay on top when key players go down. Just as the team was settling into a groove, Luke Weaver stood on the mound at Dodger Stadium, ready to lock down another ninth inning, when his body said otherwise. One awkward step during warmups, a grimace, and suddenly the Yankees’ bullpen plan unraveled faster than a hanging slider. Weaver, who had emerged as an unlikely closer hero with a 1.05 ERA and pinpoint control, was diagnosed with a hamstring strain, an injury expected to sideline him for 4–6 weeks. Suddenly, the Yankees’ bullpen, once their greatest strength, looked uncertain.

That left the Yankees in scramble mode. Devin Williams, the presumed savior from Milwaukee, hasn’t exactly inspired confidence. His ERA ballooned to 11.25 in April and still sits at a troubling 6.23, even after a mini-resurgence. Now, whispers are swirling about a possible reunion with one of the most polarizing arms in Yankees history: Aroldis Chapman.

Chapman, 37, is quietly putting together one of his best seasons in years across enemy lines in Boston. With nine saves in 10 chances, a 1.80 ERA, and a nasty 11.9 K/9 rate, he’s looking like the flamethrowing menace who once headlined New York’s October hopes. He’s also cut his walk rate and WHIP to their lowest since 2020. Boston snagged him for $10.75 million this offseason, but only $3.5 million remains on that deal, making him a potential steal for a team chasing late-inning stability.

And here’s where things get interesting. The Red Sox are hanging in fourth place and may look to retool before the trade deadline. If they pivot into seller mode, Chapman becomes a premium asset, maybe the most in-demand closer on the market behind St. Louis’ Ryan Helsley. The Yankees wouldn’t be the only team calling, but their familiarity with Chapman, plus a pressing need, gives them strong incentive to pick up the phone.

Sure, trading with the Red Sox always comes with baggage. But if Chapman is the piece that keeps New York’s bullpen afloat until Weaver returns and stabilizes the bridge to October, it may be a risk worth taking. After all, stranger things have happened in this rivalry. And if Chapman stays put in Boston? The Yankees could pivot to other high-octane arms like Oakland’s Mason Miller or Miami’s Tanner Scott, both of whom are already drawing league-wide interest ahead of the deadline.

But before the Yankees can make any big moves, it’s important to understand how they got here in the first place. The urgency behind these trade talks didn’t come out of nowhere, it started with a sudden shakeup in the bullpen that left the team scrambling for answers.

Injury that sparked panic in the Yankees

It was a routine ninth-inning warm-up at Dodger Stadium, the Yankees ahead by four and ready to salvage the final game of a tough series. As Weaver descended from the mound, a feeling of discomfort struck a sensation in the center of his left hamstring that caused him to pause and draw the attention of the Yankees’ medical team. “A bit of a grab, nothing insane, but very different,” Weaver told reporters. Within minutes, Tim Hill was summoned to close the game, and New York’s late-inning plans were suddenly in flux.

“I was very blindsided by the fact that this happened,” Weaver said afterward. “I take a lot of internal impact just when it comes to figuring out why, figuring out the signs, if there’s anything I could have done better. But it is what it is. I want to make sure that I’m strong … and get back out there.”

The initial diagnosis was enough to land Weaver on the injured list, and while the Yankees haven’t offered an exact timeline, manager Aaron Boone didn’t sugarcoat the loss. “It’s definitely a blow, and one I think we can handle and withstand,” Boone said.

Boone also confirmed the team is weighing a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection to accelerate recovery, an option typically reserved for moderate to severe strains. It’s a clear sign that Weaver’s absence might stretch beyond just a couple of weeks. And while the competitor in him is already mapping out a return, “My goal is to do… a better, efficient job to come back.” The reality is simple: hamstrings heal on their own timeline, not on adrenaline or optimism.

The Yankees know it. Weaver knows it. And until he’s back, the bullpen threads a needle with two unreliable options while keeping one eye on the trade market.