The New York Yankees kicked off their offseason by acquiring right-hander Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers, marking their first trade of the winter. Williams, one of the top closers in baseball, is set to take over as the Yankees’ closer for the 2025 season, adding strength to their bullpen with his elite pitching.
Williams avoided arbitration this offseason by agreeing to a one-year, $8.6 million deal. However, his future in New York could come with a much larger payday. As The Athletic’s Tim Britton projects, the Yankees will likely need to offer Williams a significant extension to keep him long-term. Britton suggests a five-year, $80 million deal could be required to lock him up, placing him among the highest-paid closers in the game.
“Given that this deal values Williams very close to the top of the closer market, the Yankees can afford to wait to see how the right-hander fits in New York and how healthy he is coming off last season.”
Yankees Face Big Decision on Devin Williams’ Future in New York
Williams, the 2020 National League Rookie of the Year, has posted an impressive career 1.83 ERA with 68 saves and 60 holds. He boasts a 39.4% strikeout rate and a 48.1% ground-ball rate, though command has occasionally been an issue, reflected in his 11.8% walk rate.
Williams’ signature pitch, the “Airbender” changeup, is one of the most devastating in baseball. The pitch has been the final strike on 2,299 plate appearances, with opponents batting .139/.223/.200 against it and a 23% swinging-strike rate. Since 2019, Williams’ 1.83 ERA ranks second among pitchers with at least 200 innings, trailing only Emmanuel Clase’s 1.67. His 39.4% strikeout rate is also among the best in the game, behind only Josh Hader and Edwin Diaz.
In 2024, Williams posted a stellar 1.25 ERA across 22 appearances, recording 14 saves and finishing 19 games. However, his season was delayed by stress fractures in his back, which kept him sidelined until July 28.
Despite the injury, Williams was dominant when healthy. However, his postseason was marred by a rough outing in Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Mets. With a 2-0 lead, Williams allowed four runs in the ninth inning, blowing the save in a pivotal moment of the series.
As Britton noted, the Yankees can afford to take their time with Williams. They can evaluate how he fits into the bullpen and how he recovers from last season’s injuries. With Williams poised to enter the top tier of closers, the Yankees will face a key decision on his long-term future. Britton points out that the Yankees have the flexibility to assess his performance and health before committing to an extension.
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