The New York Yankees made a bold move during the offseason when they acquired Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers, hoping to solidify their bullpen with a new closer.
The trade, which involved sending left-handed pitcher Nestor Cortes and infielder prospect Caleb Durbin to the Brewers, was aimed at improving the Yankees’ late-game pitching.
The plan was for Williams, alongside fellow closer Luke Weaver, to form a dynamic and intimidating duo at the back end of the bullpen. Weaver, who has delivered a stellar 0.53 ERA through 15 appearances, has met expectations and looked to be a key asset for the Yankees in their quest to contend in the highly competitive American League East.
However, Williams has struggled significantly in his first season with New York, and his performance has been a source of concern.
According to Jim Bowden of The Athletic, Williams has been one of the season’s biggest disappointments for the Yankees. Bowden explained that Williams’ lackluster performance has been a major reason why the Yankees haven’t been able to expand their lead in the AL East as much as they would have hoped.
“He lost the closer role to Weaver, and his poor performance has prevented the Yankees from expanding their lead in the AL East,” Bowden said. “Williams’ stuff is still good, but he just hasn’t had the command of his fastball and signature changeup that we’re used to seeing.”
With a troubling 9.24 ERA across 15 appearances, Williams has been plagued by control issues. In just 12.2 innings, he has allowed 13 earned runs and walked 11 batters, which highlights his inability to consistently command the strike zone.
His 17.5% walk rate is concerning, placing him among the worst in MLB in this category. The struggles have raised serious questions about whether Williams, once viewed as one of the league’s top relief pitchers, can return to form.
Prior to joining the Yankees, Williams was a dominant force for the Brewers, posting a career 1.83 ERA over 235.2 innings. His performance in Milwaukee earned him two All-Star selections, a Rookie of the Year award, and two Trevor Hoffman Reliever of the Year awards, cementing his status as one of the most reliable closers in the game.
Even more impressively, despite missing the first half of the 2024 season, Williams was able to finish strong, producing a 1.25 ERA and 14 saves after making his season debut late in July. This history of excellence raised expectations for his transition to the Yankees, but so far, his results have fallen short.
Williams’ struggles have left the Yankees with a bullpen issue they weren’t expecting, as his lack of consistency has forced the Yankees to rely more heavily on other options, particularly Luke Weaver, who has flourished in his new role.
However, it’s important to recognize that Williams’ career track record still provides hope for a turnaround. Despite his difficulties, Williams has not lost his stuff. His fastball and changeup remain powerful weapons, and he continues to generate swings and misses.
In his most recent outing against the San Diego Padres, Williams showed glimpses of his former dominance. Of the 21 pitches he threw, six were swings and misses, with five of those coming off his signature changeup. Additionally, Williams recorded three strikeouts and walked just one batter, showcasing that his stuff is still capable of dominating hitters when he is able to command it. In fact, Williams earned the win in that 10th inning appearance, a sign that he still has the ability to contribute in high-leverage situations when he can harness his pitches effectively.
Williams’ performance in that game was a reminder that, while his struggles have been evident this season, there is still plenty of potential for him to regain his elite form. His 87th percentile ranking in Whiff percentage among active MLB pitchers highlights his ability to generate swings and misses, an important tool for any closer.
If Williams can regain command of his fastball and changeup, there is every reason to believe he could still become a key contributor for the Yankees down the stretch. While Bowden’s criticism is valid given Williams’ early-season struggles, there is optimism that with time and adjustments, he can return to being the dominant closer he once was in Milwaukee.
For the Yankees, the hope is that Williams can work through his control issues and regain his elite status as one of the most feared relievers in baseball. If he can return to form, the Yankees’ bullpen would become that much stronger, with the potential to be one of the best in the league.
Until then, Williams will need to continue refining his mechanics and working on his command if he hopes to reclaim his role as the Yankees’ closer and help them make a push in the AL East. The road to redemption won’t be easy, but given Williams’ track record and his stuff, there is reason to believe that better days are ahead.
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