After spending the 2025 season with the New York Yankees, relief pitcher Devin Williams is hoping for a better showing with his new team next season.
According to Will Sammon of The Athletic, Williams agreed to a three-year contract with the New York Mets on Monday.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Jon Heyman of the New York Post added the financial details:
Williams could step into the closer role since Edwin Diaz is a free agent, though he is ” open to pitching in whatever role the team needs him for and wants to win a World Series in New York,” according to The Athletic’s Will Sammon. Even if he doesn’t become the full-time closer, he will be a featured part at the backend of a bullpen that also includes A.J. Minter, Adbert Alzolay and Brooks Raley.
And Diaz may end up staying as well:
“The Mets did not give Diaz’s camp a heads-up that they were reaching a deal with Williams, league sources said,” reported Sammon. “It is unclear whether they will continue to pursue someone like Robert Suarez, the next-best reliever available in free agency, if they fail to work something out with Diaz.”
As for Williams, he was traded to the New York Yankees from the Milwaukee Brewers last offseason as he entered the final year of his previous contract.
Williams once dominated the conversation of MLB’s best closer, but the 2025 season was a complete disaster. The 31-year-old made 67 appearances for New York and recorded a career-worst 4.79 ERA while finishing with 18 saves, a 4-6 record and 90 strikeouts in 62.0 innings pitched. He made four appearances in the postseason and didn’t surrender a run.
Amid his season-long struggles with the Yankees, Williams was demoted from the closer role twice. He originally lost his job to Luke Weaver but was reinserted as the closer when Weaver missed time with a hamstring injury. He was removed from the position once again when New York acquired closer David Bednar from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the trade deadline.
Prior to playing in Pinstripes, Williams was a two-time NL Reliever of the Year in 2020 and 2023, and he earned back-to-back All-Star selections in 2022 and 2023. Unfortunately, his tenure in Milwaukee ended in a similarly disappointing fashion when he surrendered four runs in the ninth inning of an NL Wild Card Game against the New York Mets, causing the Brewers to lose their sixth straight playoff series.
The Mets are certainly hoping that Williams will be able to achieve his old form. If he can be a reliable reliever once again, he will play a big role in helping New York chase a playoff spot in 2026.
