Devin Williams is altering boroughs. Williams and the New York Mets have agreed to a three-year contract, experiences The Athletic. The deal consists of $45 million in wage plus a $6 million signing bonus and deferrals, in line with the New York Put up. The crew has not but introduced the transfer.
The signing reunites Williams with David Stearns. Williams was a minor leaguer with the Milwaukee Brewers when the membership named Stearns their normal supervisor in September 2015, and the 2 overlapped within the group till Stearns left to take over the Mets two years in the past. Certainly that relationship performed a task within the signing.
Williams, 31, spent this previous season throughout city with the Yankees and had a turbulent season, throwing 62 innings with a 4.79 ERA. He allowed 37 runs in 2025 after permitting 33 runs mixed from 2022-24. Williams was dominant at occasions, nonetheless, and he completed the season with 90 strikeouts in these 62 innings. He was a trusted late-inning reliever within the postseason.
“At first it was a problem, however I’ve grown to like being right here,” Williams stated after the Yankees had been eradicated from the postseason. “I really like this metropolis. I really like taking the prepare to the sector on daily basis.”
We ranked Williams because the Nineteenth-best free agent out there this offseason, and the second greatest reliever behind erstwhile Mets nearer Edwin Díaz. Here is the write-up:
“Excessive-Lev Dev” is a powerful rebound candidate primarily based on, if nothing else, the incongruity between his ERA and his underlying knowledge. There had been 21 pitchers who made 30 or extra appearances in 2025 with none begins and who possessed a strikeout charge above 30% and a stroll charge under 10%. Williams’ 4.79 ERA was the worst of the group, which as a complete put up a 2.76 mark — to the extent that the subsequent worst ERA was simply over 4.00. Williams someway managed that whereas sporting the fourth-best hard-hit proportion of the bunch, behind names like Josh Hader and Abner Uribe. Issues occur on this sport typically, notably with particular person reduction seasons. There isn’t any compelling purpose to assume Williams has misplaced his contact simply but.
We defined additional why Williams, regardless of his disappointing season with the Yankees, was a extremely coveted free agent with an opportunity to bounce again to his All-Star kind.
The Williams signing doesn’t essentially preclude Díaz returning to the Mets, although it does make it much less probably. New York’s bullpen was in tough form many of the 2025 season and it could possibly be that they hope to pair Williams with Díaz somewhat than have Williams substitute Díaz. Both approach, Williams figures to be the primary reliever the Mets purchase this winter, not the one one.
Lefties Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter are the one different locks for New York’s bullpen in the intervening time. Minter missed most of this previous season with season-ending lat surgical procedure. Righty Huascar Brazoban is a candidate for an additional bullpen spot.
The Yankees didn’t make Williams the $22.025 million qualifying provide, so they won’t obtain a compensation draft decide for dropping him nor will the Mets give up draft picks to signal him.
