Devin Williams is crossing town this winter, leaving the Yankees for a three-year deal with the Mets worth more than $50 million guaranteed.
The contract breakdown tells the story of how much the Mets wanted him despite his rough 2025 season. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported the guaranteed money, while the New York Post’s Jon Heyman added details: $15 million in salaries, a $6 million signing bonus, and $5 million in annual deferrals.
That’s significant money for a reliever coming off a 4.79 ERA in 67 appearances with the Yankees.
Williams arrived in the Bronx with serious credentials. The Yankees traded Nestor Cortes, Caleb Durbin, and cash to Milwaukee in December 2024 for the two-time All-Star and former Rookie of the Year. He’s also won NL Reliever of the Year twice.
But the transition never worked.
Williams struggled from day one in pinstripes. His first 10 games produced an 11.25 ERA – one of the worst 10-game starts by a Yankees reliever in team history. Only Steve Howe and T.J. Beam had worse debuts with at least eight innings pitched. Aaron Boone quickly pulled him from the closer role.
The numbers show how far Williams fell from his Milwaukee dominance. He used to be nearly impossible to barrel up, but in 2025 hitters made much better contact. His fastball command disappeared, and even his signature airbender changeup lost its bite for long stretches.
Now the Mets are betting they can fix what went wrong across town. Williams gets a fresh start in 2026, and the money suggests New York believes his Yankees struggles were more about fit than ability.
It’s a calculated risk that could pay off big if Williams rediscovers the form that made him one of baseball’s most dominant relievers.
