Closer Devin Williams has hit the free agent market after a turbulent season with the New York Yankees. He was one of the most reliable relievers in baseball prior to 2025, and though the surface numbers look bad, the numbers under the surface proved Williams was much better than what met the eye this season.

Devin Williams is One of the Bigger Question Marks in Free Agency

Williams’ Career

Williams, 30, debuted in 2019 with the Milwaukee Brewers and rose through the ranks in the bullpen. He began as a setup man behind closer Josh Hader, and when Hader was traded to the Padres at the 2022 trade deadline, Williams took over the ninth inning. From July 2022 through the end of the 2024 season, Williams collected 65 saves while posting a combined ERA of 1.59. Though the performance was good in Milwaukee, Williams struggled with some injuries.

2025 Campaign

In December of 2024, the Brewers traded Williams to the Yankees. New York was looking to stabilize the ninth inning after Clay Holmes departed in free agency. The trade did not go as planned. From Opening Day, where he faced his former team, to his last outing, Williams did not have his best season. He often looked overmatched and nervous on the mound, especially at the start of the season. New York can be an unforgiving place if you let it be, but Williams did not.

After losing his closer’s job in May, Williams transitioned to the eighth inning. He excelled in that role, with an opponent’s OPS of .470, though the ERA was still high at 4.64. He moved back to the ninth inning for two months and was a bit better than in the early season. After faltering again towards the end of July, the Yankees made David Bednar the full-time closer.

Williams still had a somewhat solid season in New York, and a deeper look at his underlying metrics shows he was much better than many realized. Even with occasional command lapses, he continued to dominate contact; opponents posted a wOBA in the low-.220s against him, with an xwOBA that was even sharper, reflecting how rarely hitters squared him up. His elite changeup remained one of baseball’s most unhittable pitches, driving strong strikeout rates and consistently weak contact. While his ERA hovered higher than expected at times, his FIP and expected stats painted the picture of a reliever still performing at an All-Star level—one whose raw stuff and peripherals suggested that any surface-level volatility overstated his struggles.

Williams’ Contract Projection

Devin Williams enters free agency as one of the most dominant late-inning relievers in baseball, and his contract is expected to reflect that. Despite missing time with injuries and carrying some volatility inherent to relievers, he has consistently posted elite strikeout rates, microscopic ERAs, and some of the most deceptive stuff in baseball. His changeup — the famed “Airbender” — remains one of the highest-whiff pitches in the sport, and his underlying metrics (FIP, xERA, xwOBA) continue to support frontline bullpen value. Given the recent market for closers, like Josh Hader, Williams is projected to command a deal in the four-year, $60–68 million range. Williams could also get a deal with opt-out or escalator clauses with a contender. A shorter, higher-AAV contract (three years, $48–54 million) is also possible if teams view his workload history cautiously.

Devin Williams to the Dodgers? 👀@IamTrevorMay could see a “bridge situation” if he were to land in Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/vEbKtLIc8m

https://twitter.com/FoulTerritoryTV/status/1990180578134471063?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1990180578134471063%7Ctwgr%5Eb53bc86bee92639104ce2bc76509e4a96e8868a8%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Flastwordonsports.com%2Fbaseball%2F2025%2F11%2F16%2Fdevin-williams-hits-free-agency-market-after-rocky-2025%2F

When it comes to suitors, several playoff hopefuls profile as ideal fits for Williams. The Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies both value swing-and-miss bullpen arms and have shown a willingness to spend on high-impact relievers. The Dodgers and Williams have already reported mutual interest. A return to the Yankees could make sense for both sides, but Williams would need to commit to being a setup man. The Toronto Blue Jays are also in the market for a closer and should have the payroll to spend.

Main Photo Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images