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The New York Yankees made a bold move to acquire Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers to bolster their bullpen ahead of the 2025 Major League Baseball season.
Williams was expected to lock down the closer’s role, but that hasn’t been the case. He struggled to begin the year and was removed from the role. Although Williams has struggled in New York, MLB insider Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report believes the right-hander will be the Yankees’ closer again before the All-Star break.
“Remember in 2022 when Josh Hader went on a paternity leave in mid-June and then after initially pitching well upon his return, went through a stretch of nearly two months in which he allowed 25 earned runs in 13 innings pitched?,” Miller wrote. “Maybe that's what's going on with Williams, as opposed to the alternative that last October's implosion broke him. The Yankees aren't exercising patience, already bumping him from the closer role. But he'll probably get his mojo and his job back by the All-Star Break.”
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To begin his tenure with the Yankees, Williams is 0-2 with an 8.18 ERA in 13 games, including going 4-for-5 on saves. Since losing the role, the Yankees turned to Luke Weaver to be the team’s closer.
After being removed from the closer’s role, Williams understood the decision as he knew he had to be better.
“With the way things have gone, it’s not a shock to me,” he said. “Being a closer is a position you have to earn, and you have to keep earning it to continue to be in that role. I haven’t been doing that. It’s disappointing. You work for years to get to that point, and you have it taken away from you. It’s not a fun feeling at all. I can’t say it’s undeserved.”
Williams is earning $8.6 million in 2025 before becoming a free agent in 2026.
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