Last winter, the Mets added several ex-Yankees. Juan Soto signed with the Mets last December, and former closer Clay Holmes joined the team as a starting pitcher. This winter, another former Yankees closer is coming to Queens. Devin Williams, a well-known figure in Mets history thanks to the 2024 NL Wild Card round, is reportedly joining the Mets.
A Look at Williams
The Yankees hoped that Devin Williams would be the team’s permanent answer to fill the closer/stopper role. That didn’t happen, though, as Williams had a very turbulent season with the team up in The Bronx.
Williams’ tenure with the Yankees started off shaky, as he conceded four combined earned runs over his first four outings. He rebounded nicely before two brutal outings in mid-April, in which Williams gave up seven combined runs (six ER) over one inning. The second one, against the Blue Jays, came a week after he struggled against the Rays, and saw Williams leave without recording an out.
The 31-year-old was removed from the closer role in lieu of Luke Weaver. Williams eventually re-entered the role and thrived in June, as he posted a sub-1.00 ERA and notched six saves over 10 games.
Then, the home run ball bugged him. Williams gave up four home runs between July and August, a time span that saw the ex-Brewer lose his job to David Bednar. He didn’t pitch badly in a setup role, as Williams struck out 19 over 9.2 IP in September. Williams only allowed three hits over three postseason outings and didn’t give up an earned run.
It was an unusual season to say the least for Williams, the former NL Reliever of the Year who thrived as a stopper with the Brewers. Williams walked fewer batters than in past years. On the other hand, he gave up well-hit contact (5.0 Barrel/PA) at a rate not seen in his career.
Despite sparingly using a cutter in 2025, as well as experimenting with a slider in the past, as well, the bread-and-butter for Williams has always been the “airbender” changeup and four-seamer.
Williams’ fastball velocity has waned slightly over the years. When he first came up, he was averaging 96-97 MPH. These past few seasons, it’s been more 94-95 MPH. The thing, though, with Williams is that the fastball plays very well. One, it’s a funky offering from a low arm slot & run. Two, it plays amazingly well off the changeup.
His changeup, though, is the big X-factor. It’s a plus-plus pitch that generates a lot of weak contacts, chases, and swings-and-misses when Williams puts hitters in vulnerable spots.
Per reports, the Mets are signing Devin Williams to a three-year deal worth $51MM. According to MLB.com, it does not come out with options or opt-outs.
Analysis
One could argue this is an ironic move, given that several ex-Yankees have moved south of the Whitestone Bridge over the past few years. It’s not really, though.
David Stearns is very familiar with Williams, as the righty was the Brewers’ set-up man at the onset of his career before taking over as closer once Josh Hader was traded. Stearns has re-acquired several former Brewers in his tenure with the Mets. Now, Williams joins the bunch.
Now, there is an argument to be made that Williams didn’t pitch as badly as the numbers indicate. Yes, he struggled very badly in April. However, Williams didn’t get too predictable in two-strike counts this season, even though a third (15 of 45) of the hits he gave up were on two-strike counts. Roughly 56% of his two-strike pitches were changeups.
He righted the ship late in the second half and finished in the top 50% in wOBA (.271) this past season. Among relievers with at least 30 games pitched, he finished 61st out of 221.
As of now, Williams would be tentatively slated to be the closer for the Mets. Edwin Diaz is a free agent, as Diaz was one of several 2025 Mets relievers to test the market when he opted out of his contract.
If the Mets follow precedent, it would make sense to bring back Diaz and try to form a strong 1-2 punch in the late innings, much like the team wanted to do in the summer when Ryan Helsley was acquired. However, that’s a story for another day.
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