The Yankees acquired Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers this offseason, expecting the elite closer who dominated the National League. That’s not what they’ve gotten.
Williams was a two-time All-Star and two-time NL Reliever of the Year with Milwaukee. But he’s struggled to find that form in pinstripes, getting bumped from the closer’s role early before working his way back into it.
The thing is, he still hasn’t looked like the same pitcher.
Now that the trade deadline’s approaching, could the Yankees actually move their big offseason acquisition? It’s not as crazy as it sounds.
The Yankees aren’t sellers – they’ve already made moves to add talent. But Williams is heading to free agency after this season, and his performance has been underwhelming. Trading him now might be better than losing him for nothing. FanSided’s Thomas Carannante thinks Williams could be a surprise trade candidate.
“Fans would much rather move Williams than (Luke) Weaver, however, because he probably carries more value and almost certainly will not be returning to the Bronx after 2025. He’s been pitching great over the last month and will surely serve little-to-no purpose if the Yankees aren’t optimistic about Judge (and keep playing like they’ve been). A ton of teams would immediately help the Yankees recoup what they lost in their offseason trade with the Brewers, and they shouldn’t hesitate if the right offer surfaces.”
When Williams is on, he’s arguably the best closer in baseball. His changeup is filthy, and he was dominant for Milwaukee.
But the numbers don’t lie this season. Williams has a 4.58 ERA and has allowed more earned runs than he did in the last two years combined with the Brewers.
Here’s the thing though – he has been better lately. Teams looking for bullpen help at the deadline might be willing to bet on his track record over a few months of struggles.
If the Yankees did move Williams, they’d likely hand the closer’s job back to Luke Weaver, who’s had success in that role this season. It wouldn’t leave them completely without options.
The Yankees gave up prospects to get Williams, so they’d want to recoup some value rather than watch him walk in free agency. With his recent improvement and proven track record, there’s probably a market for him if they decide to listen to offers.
