The New York Yankees have a knack for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory in the most gut-wrenching ways imaginable. With 28 walk-off losses in extra-inning games since 2020, they lead Major League Baseball in dramatic collapses, according to Stathead’s Katie Sharp. Their latest heartbreak came Monday night, an 8-5 defeat to the Texas Rangers in 10 innings that exposed a glaring issue: their closer, Devin Williams, is unraveling, and the Yankees’ postseason hopes may hinge on replacing him—fast.
The game started with promise. The Yankees surged to a 3-0 lead in the second inning, only for Max Fried to surrender four runs in the bottom half. Giancarlo Stanton’s monstrous 427-foot, two-run homer in the fourth reclaimed a 5-4 edge, setting the stage for what should have been a winnable game. But the ninth inning brought disaster. Joc Pederson crushed a game-tying homer off Williams, marking the closer’s third blown save of 2025. Then, in the 10th, Josh Jung sealed the Yankees’ fate with a three-run walk-off blast off Trade Deadline pickup Jake Bird.
Joc Pederson’s game-tying HR.
I believe he said “Don’t mess with me” as he left the box except he didn’t use the word mess. pic.twitter.com/MHztAorOqF
— Jared Sandler (@JaredSandler) August 5, 2025
Williams’ struggles are no longer a blip. His ERA has ballooned to 5.10 across 46 appearances, with five runs allowed in his last seven outings since the All-Star break. Yankees fans, venting their frustration on social media, have reached a breaking point. “Devin Williams has a 5.10 ERA, and Aaron Boone still calls him the closer? Embarrassing,” one fan fumed. Another added, “Not trading Williams at the deadline was a massive mistake. He’s not built for the Bronx.” Some even found dark humor in his woes: “Williams forced the Yankees to ditch their facial hair policy, then stinks up the joint. Hilarious.”
The criticism isn’t just fan noise—it’s a call to action. Last season, the Yankees faced a similar crisis when Clay Holmes blew a league-high 13 saves. They pivoted to Luke Weaver, who thrived with a 2.89 ERA and four saves in four chances to close out 2024. Weaver, now sporting a 2.95 ERA with eight saves in 11 opportunities this year, is a natural candidate to reclaim the role. He briefly replaced Williams in July before an injury sidelined him, but he’s back and ready.
The Yankees also have options from their Trade Deadline haul. Camilo Doval, with 15 saves and a 3.19 ERA, and David Bednar, with 17 saves and a stellar 2.66 ERA, are proven closers who could stabilize the bullpen. Either could step in and spare New York more late-game meltdowns.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. The Yankees are now tied with the Seattle Mariners for the second AL Wild Card spot, clinging to a 1.5-game lead over the Rangers for the final playoff berth. With the season on a knife’s edge, continuing to rely on Williams is a gamble they can’t afford. Manager Aaron Boone’s loyalty to his struggling closer is testing the patience of a fanbase desperate for October baseball.