The New York Yankees have officially added reliever Devin Williams to their roster, acquiring him from the Milwaukee Brewers in a deal announced on Friday. The trade involves pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr., infield prospect Caleb Durbin, and financial considerations heading to Milwaukee.
Williams, 30, had an impressive season with the Brewers, recording 14 saves in just 22 appearances despite missing the first three months due to a stress fracture in his back. After returning, he excelled, allowing only three earned runs over 21.2 innings during the regular season. However, his postseason performance was memorable for giving up a pivotal home run to Pete Alonso of the Mets, which helped the Mets clinch a series victory over Milwaukee.
The Brewers opted to decline Williams’ $10.5 million option for the 2025 season, marking the start of his final year of arbitration. Over his six seasons with Milwaukee, Williams has established himself as a reliable closer, earning two All-Star selections and the 2020 NL Rookie of the Year award. He collected 68 saves while demonstrating consistent performance with a 1.83 ERA and 1.02 WHIP.
For the Yankees, acquiring Williams strengthens their bullpen alongside the return of Jonathan Loáisiga, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery. The decision rests with manager Aaron Boone on whether to designate Williams or Luke Weaver as the team’s closer in the upcoming season. This move comes after Clay Holmes, who previously held the closer role, signed with the New York Mets.
The Yankees’ acquisition of Williams follows their recent signing of Max Fried, solidifying their pitching staff further with one of the league’s top left-hander starters and a proven closer. This strategic approach underscores the team’s focus on building a strong pitching foundation, especially as they look to navigate the challenges ahead, particularly in optimizing their offensive lineup.
On the other hand, the Brewers are no strangers to trading away star pitchers, having dealt Josh Hader and Corbin Burnes in previous seasons. The team, while losing Williams, seems to be repositioning by acquiring Cortes, who could be crucial for the rotation as they aim to maintain competitiveness in their pursuit of the NL Central title. Cortes, while possibly serving as a stopgap, could bring valuable innings to a thin pitching staff.
In summary, this trade not only reshapes the rosters of both teams but also highlights their respective strategies moving forward. For the Yankees, this is a critical step toward fortifying their success, while the Brewers are proving they remain committed to winning despite the trade.
This insightful maneuver by both teams reflects a broader trend in Major League Baseball where franchises are balancing the immediate needs of competitive rosters with long-term aspirations, signaling an exciting season ahead for fans.