The decision came two days after the Yankees’ Devin Williams blew a save against the Blue Jays on April 25, 2025.
The Mets are signing another ex-Yankee in free agency, though Devin Williams had a more challenging season in the Bronx than Juan Soto did two years ago.
The veteran right-handed reliever is moving from the Bronx to Queens, signing a three-year deal with the Mets, as reported by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.
Williams lost his role as the Yankees’ closer following the worst year of his career. He recorded a 4.79 ERA in 62 innings, despite having a 1.83 career ERA before 2025, with 18 saves and four blown saves.
However, the 31-year-old has a history with Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, who helped him develop into a superstar closer with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Stearns is clearly encouraged by Williams’ analytics, which indicate he can still be a formidable presence at the back of a rotation.
Despite his challenging season, his expected batting average (xBA) of .195 ranked in MLB’s 96th percentile. His 35% chase rate and 34.7% strikeout rate were in the 97th percentile, and his 37.7% whiff rate was in the 99th.
The full impact of this signing on the Mets bullpen is unknown. Star closer Edwin Diaz is a free agent, and Stearns has expressed interest in re-signing him.
The acquisition of Williams is not expected to deter the Mets from pursuing Diaz. If certain scenarios play out, Williams might serve as a setup man in Queens.
This move addresses a bullpen that ran out of steam in the 2025 season and lacked significant talent ahead of Diaz.
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