Less than a year ago, the New York Yankees made a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers for one of the best closers in baseball, Devin Williams. Of course, it didn’t pan out exactly like they envisioned when they first made the trade, but Williams was still a valuable asset in the bullpen down the stretch and in the postseason. This has led to much debate over whether or not the Yankees should (or want to) bring him back for next season, especially for the long term. However, according to The Athletic‘s Ken Rosenthal, New York has recently had discussions with Williams and his representatives concerning an extension of his time in the Bronx.
Report: Yankees Open to Retaining Devin Williams
Setup Success
It remains unclear, however, exactly how interested they are in bringing back the two-time National League Closer of the Year. Williams was inconsistent throughout most of last season, posting a 4.79 ERA across 62 innings. He still managed to notch 90 strikeouts, and he excelled as a setup man after it became clear that the closer role did not suit him, at least not in 2025. Still, the Yankees do not often hand out long and hefty contracts to relievers, so it will be intriguing to see what kind of deal they’ll try to work out with the 31-year-old.
The Yankees and Devin Williams have discusssed a potential reunuion, per @Ken_Rosenthal.
The Dodgers, Reds, Red Sox and Mets are among other teams connected to Williams this offseason. pic.twitter.com/sW6JnxCLxo
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) November 20, 2025
Bulking The Bullpen
There’s no question that the Yankees could really use Williams next year. Not only is Luke Weaver a free agent, but the team also declined to exercise Jonathan Loáisiga‘s club option, leaving David Bednar, Camilo Doval, Jake Cousins, Tim Hill, Fernando Cruz, and Brent Headrick as the only relief pitchers on their active roster. The bullpen was also, debatably, the Yankees’ Achilles heel throughout the whole regular season, and if they want to stay competitive, they will have to make some moves in the offseason to solidify their staff.
Whether Williams will fit into this equation is another question entirely, and there’s no guarantee that he will return to his status as an elite reliever that he held in Milwaukee. Williams himself has said that he enjoyed playing in New York and would like to continue his career there, so it really comes down to how much money (and faith) the Yankees are willing to give him.
Main Photo Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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