The baseball world got a dose of New York drama this week as Devin Williams, the enigmatic relief pitcher who struggled mightily with the Yankees, officially signed a three-year, $45 million deal with the New York Mets. It's a move that signals the end of one of the most disappointing experiments in recent Yankees history and raises serious questions about what comes next for both franchises.
The Bronx Bombers' Failed Experiment
When the Yankees acquired Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers in December 2024, they thought they were getting a dominant closer to anchor their bullpen. The 31-year-old had been a
two-time National League Reliever of the Year and a former Rookie of the Year, armed with his signature "airbender changeup" that had terrorized hitters for six seasons in Milwaukee.
Instead, what unfolded in the Bronx was a roller coaster of epic proportions. Williams posted a
9.00 ERA in April across 12 relief appearances, leaving Yankees fans scratching their heads about what went wrong. While he stabilized somewhat in May and June with a 2.66 ERA, he cratered again in July with a 5.73 ERA in 11 outings. The Yankees eventually moved him into a setup role, where he finally found some footing, finishing the season with 13 consecutive scoreless outings and four shutout innings in the playoffs.
The Numbers Tell a Different Story
Here's where it gets interesting: despite the ugly 4.79 season ERA, Williams' underlying metrics suggest he was far more unlucky than bad. His
2.68 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) compared to his actual ERA indicated he ran into poor luck and weak defensive support. His strikeout rate remained elite throughout the season, a sign that his stuff was still there—he just couldn't catch a break in pinstripes.
Yet none of that mattered to the Yankees. General manager Brian Cashman showed no interest in bringing Williams back, and frankly, it would have been shocking if he had. The relationship was broken, and both sides needed a fresh start.
What This Means for the Mets
For the Mets, the Williams signing is part of a larger puzzle they're trying to assemble. The team is banking on a change of scenery to resurrect the pitcher's career, hoping that better defense and luck will help him return to form. But there's a catch: the signing only makes sense if
closer Edwin Díaz re-signs with the team, creating the potential for a "super bullpen" in Queens.
The Mets are essentially betting that Williams can rediscover his dominance in a different uniform and that Díaz will stick around to anchor the closer role. If both things happen, New York's relief pitching could be formidable. If Díaz walks, the Williams deal looks considerably less impressive.
What's Next for the Yankees?
The Yankees' bullpen overhaul is far from over. With Williams out the door, general manager Brian Cashman will need to pivot and find new solutions to shore up the relief corps. The question now is whether the team will pursue other high-profile free agents or take a different approach to building their bullpen for 2026.
One thing is clear: the Williams experiment was a cautionary tale about the unpredictability of relief pitching and the dangers of expecting a proven closer to immediately dominate in a new environment. For the Mets, they're hoping lightning strikes twice—that Williams can find his footing in Queens where he couldn't in the Bronx.
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5. Devin Williams, Mets agree to three-year deal | 12/02/2025 | MLB.com
