"Williams, 31, is coming off an uneven season for the Yankees. The Brewers traded the star reliever to New York in exchange for Nestor Cortes, Caleb Durbin, and cash considerations in December 2024. At the time, he was long established as an elite closer, having posted a 1.83 ERA across 235 2/3 innings for Milwaukee from 2019-2024. In that time, his 39.4% strikeout rate and 27.6% K-BB rate were fourth- and fifth-best among qualified relievers, respectively."
"Though he did walk 11.8% of hitters in that span, the elite strikeout numbers were more than enough to compensate. All told, Williams was worth 7.6 fWAR during his time in Milwaukee, which placed sixth among qualified relievers. Ryan Pressly, who ranked fifth ahead of Williams, was worth 8.0 fWAR but pitched 74 more innings. The Yankees were surely hoping for more of the same from Williams in his final year before free agency."
"His first 12 games of the season were abysmal, as Williams struck out an uncharacteristically low 20.0% of hitters across March and April while walking 16.0% and allowing an opposing batting line of .300/.420/.400. The strikeout and walk numbers returned to normal the rest of the way, but Williams continued to post uneven run prevention numbers, with an ERA of 0.93 in June followed by ERAs over 4.90 in July and August."
Multiple teams including the Mets, Tigers, and Giants have expressed interest in signing reliever Devin Williams. Williams, 31, was traded from Milwaukee to the Yankees in December 2024 for Nestor Cortes, Caleb Durbin, and cash. From 2019–2024 with Milwaukee he posted a 1.83 ERA across 235 2/3 innings, a 39.4% strikeout rate, and a 27.6% K-BB rate, producing 7.6 fWAR. With the Yankees he posted a 4.79 ERA in 62 innings, experienced role instability, and produced volatile monthly results that reduced but did not erase his overall value.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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