So long, Edwin Diaz. The New York Mets have moved on from their star closer in favor of Devin Williams. Signed for a reported 3 years with money ranging between $45-50 million, it’s about half of what was expected to land in Diaz’s wallet with a contract expected to approach $100 million overall.
Devin Williams Mets deal: $45M for 3 years. $5M per deferred for 11/20 years with $6M bonus prorated equal over 3 yrs
https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1995680683025727697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Reliever Devin Williams and the New York Mets are in agreement on a three-year contract that guarantees more than $50 million, sources tell ESPN.
First on the agreement was @WillSammon.
https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1995680123199389916?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1995680123199389916%7Ctwgr%5E55173e9d0631536925d13c492023a572e294a515%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Frisingapple.com%2Fny-mets-free-agent-signing-devin-williams-grade
The thought of signing Williams and Diaz was a dream and while this doesn’t officially rule it out, it kind of does. Williams is getting paid closer money to finish off games for the Mets. How does this free agent deal grade out for the Mets?
Give the Mets a B- if this officially rules out Edwin Diaz returning
Williams doesn’t have significant closer experience. Only in 2023 when he saved 36 games for the Milwaukee Brewers has he crossed over 20 for the year. He lost the job with the New York Yankees last season and ended the year with a 4.79 ERA.
His best season of control with 3.5 BB/9 but lowest strikeout rate at 13.1 K/9, he’s an analytic darling whose 2.68 FIP tells us he was more unlucky than bad.
David Stearns’ familiarity with Williams is an easy explanation as to why he made him a prime target. With Diaz hoping to get five years and closer to $20 million per year, the Mets are going to go with a perceived “next best thing” on the free agent market.
Williams has fascinating stuff and is a proven high-leverage reliever who, unfortunately for him, will have to come to a fan base who knows him best for giving up a walk-off home run in the playoffs to seal his team’s exit from the postseason.
This signing, if it truly does mean the end of Diaz’s Mets tenure, can’t be any better than a B-. It is a downgrade. Of course, if this is in addition to a deal with Diaz, we can make room for an A with an additional plus side added to it.
The Mets are banking on the Williams from Milwaukee to show up to St. Lucie this spring and not the one who evaporated in the Bronx. Like with the Brandon Nimmo trade, we’ll fully appreciate this signing more depending on what they do next. If it leads to an improvement elsewhere, even with a better middle reliever or high-leverage arm for setup purposes, how can we not like it?
