The New York Yankees have reportedly acquired reliever Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers. according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Pitcher Nestor Cortés, second base prospect Caleb Durbin and some cash They are heading to Milwaukee.
Williams, 30, recorded 14 saves in 22 appearances last season with the Brewers. He missed the first three months of the season due to a stress fracture in his back. When he returned, Williams only allowed three earned runs in 21.2 innings during the regular season.
In the postseason, Williams made two appearances in their series against the New York Mets. It was Williams who allowed Pete Alonso’s ninth-inning home run in Game 3 that sparked the Mets’ series-clinching comeback.
The Brewers declined Williams’ $10.5 million option for the 2025 season and he now enters his final season of arbitration.
A two-time NL All-Star and 2020 NL Rookie of the Year, Williams spent all six of his MLB seasons with the Brewers and took on the closer role, making 68 saves in 235.2 innings and posting an ERA of 1.83 and 1.02. WHIP.
The addition of Williams, plus the return of Jonathan Loáisiga, who is coming off Tommy John surgery, will strengthen the Yankees’ bullpen. The question remains whether manager Aaron Boone will use Williams or Luke Weaver as the team’s closer in 2025.
Clay Holmes, who was the Yankees’ closer until he lost the job to Weaver, signed with the New York Mets last week.
Cortes has become a reliable starter since receiving a heavier workload starting in 2021. He has made 84 starts over the past four seasons in innings for the Yankees (173 1/3 in 2024), but with the addition of Max Fried It became clear that someone needed to be moved.