The Boston Red Sox are among a dozen teams eyeing former Yankees closer Devin Williams, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic.
The Red Sox join the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds as three of the teams most interested in the two-time All-Star reliever.
Williams had a rough 2025 season in pinstripes, posting a career-worst 4.79 ERA and losing the closer’s role multiple times. That’s a far cry from the dominant pitcher who was considered one of baseball’s best relievers during his six seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Before the Yankees trade, Williams put together three straight seasons with an ERA of 1.93 or lower. His devastating changeup earned him the nickname “The Airbender” for good reason.
But here’s the thing – there’s still plenty of evidence that Williams can bounce back. Opposing hitters managed just a .194 average against his changeup this past season, and he maintained a solid 34.7% strikeout rate.
The Red Sox already have Aroldis Chapman handling ninth-inning duties, so Williams would likely slot into a setup role. That might actually work in his favor, taking some pressure off after a challenging year as the Yankees’ closer.
Williams faces competition from other top relievers on the market, including Edwin Diaz and Robert Suarez, both coming off All-Star seasons. The Athletic’s Free Agent Big Board ranks Diaz and Suarez ahead of Williams, but his track record suggests he’s not far behind.
Yankees fans watched Williams blow nine saves in 2025. They probably don’t want to see him rediscover his form with their biggest AL East rivals.
The way I see it, Williams represents the kind of calculated risk that could pay off big for the Red Sox. Sometimes a change of scenery is exactly what a pitcher needs.
