The New York Yankees’ bullpen has been a rollercoaster this season, and at the center of the storm is Devin Williams, the once-heralded closer acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in a blockbuster offseason trade. Expected to lock down games in the ninth inning, Williams has instead become a liability, posting a shocking 5.48 ERA across 46 innings in 50 appearances. His struggles have reached a boiling point, with a jaw-dropping 10.80 ERA over his last seven outings, leaving fans and analysts questioning his future in pinstripes.
Tim Britton of The Athletic didn’t mince words when discussing Williams’ free agency prospects, stating, “We can probably eliminate the Yankees from the teams potentially interested in Williams this winter. It’s been a brutal campaign for the closer in the Bronx, as he’s surrendered more earned runs this season than in his final three with the Brewers combined.” With the 30-year-old reliever’s contract set to expire, Britton predicts the Yankees will let him walk, turning their attention to a crowded closer market that includes names like Edwin Díaz, Robert Suárez, Aroldis Chapman, and Ryan Helsley.
Williams’ fall from grace has been stark. Once a dominant force in Milwaukee, where he earned a reputation as one of baseball’s elite relievers, he’s failed to find his footing in New York. Blown saves have piled up, costing the Yankees critical games in a tightly contested AL East race. His recent skid—allowing runs in five consecutive appearances before a lone scoreless inning on Sunday—has only deepened doubts about his reliability.
Despite the struggles, Yankees manager Aaron Boone remains in Williams’ corner. Since the 2025 MLB trade deadline, Boone has shifted Williams to lower-leverage situations, hoping to rebuild his confidence without the pressure of closing games. “We’re working with him to find that groove again,” Boone said, acknowledging the pitcher’s potential to rebound. Williams, however, hasn’t sugarcoated his performance, admitting to reporters, “I’m not making pitches. It’s pretty simple. I stink right now.”
Meanwhile, the Yankees’ bullpen is undergoing a transformation that could render Williams expendable. The team bolstered its relief corps at the trade deadline with the addition of Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar, a proven arm who’s already making an impact. Additionally, Ryan Yarbrough and Fernando Cruz are nearing returns from rehab assignments, adding depth and versatility to a unit that’s starting to find its stride.
With a robust free-agent market for closers looming this winter, the Yankees appear ready to move on from their experiment with Williams. While there’s still a glimmer of hope that the veteran can rediscover his form, the clock is ticking. For now, the Bronx Bombers are betting on new faces and fresh arms to carry them through the postseason push, leaving Williams’ future in New York hanging by a thread.