Devin Williams didn’t do himself any favors this year, heading into his first crack at free agency. The two-time All-Star and former reliever of the year struggled under the bright lights with the New York Yankees. After a rocky spring and early demotion from the ninth inning, he finished 2025 with 18 saves, a 4.79 ERA, 90 strikeouts and a 1.13 WHIP over 62 innings.
So the question is how that’s gonna affect him as he hits the open market.
MLB Network analyst JP Morosi framed Williams as a closer-or-setup option with a real shot to land out West, mentioning the San Francisco Giants as a plausible fit. The Giants, now run by president of baseball operations Buster Posey, are expected to be aggressive and have a clear incentive to retool a bullpen that turned over late in the season.
Multiple local reads echo that San Francisco needs late-inning help.
Under the hood, the profile remains durable. Williams’ strikeout rate sat at 34.7%, and his expected results looked far better than the ERA. Statcast pinned him with a .280 xwOBA, while the signature Airbender changeup again showed extreme arm-side run and drop relative to league averages.
That’s why clubs still project swing-and-miss in leverage situations, whether he closes or sets up.
The Yankees matter, too.
Williams told reporters he’s “definitely open” to a reunion in the Bronx. Even if New York ultimately shops elsewhere, simple proximity raises the bidding for a high-octane reliever who already handled the New York stage. Agents will leverage that interest while teams decide if the underlying traits outweigh the surface-level ERA.
Best fits right now
The Giants make the most sense right now—new leadership, bullpen turnover, and a clear need for a flexible late-inning piece. The Yankees stay in the frame on familiarity alone, and if the price doesn’t get silly, they could treat him as leverage depth.
Keep an eye on the Dodgers and Mariners, too. They shop the relief aisle every winter and always seem to grab one more arm before you’ve finished the paragraph.
Where he lands
Williams’ year looked messy, but the bat-missing ingredients and pitch shapes are intact. With San Francisco motivated and New York lurking, he could be a top-of-the-market setup man, or take a short-term “prove it” contract.
If a West Coast club pushes early, expect the Yankees’ presence in the conversation to keep everyone honest.
