The New York Yankees’ trade for Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers, sending Nestor Cortes and Caleb Durbin in return, delivers a major boost to their bullpen and adds substantial versatility to their relief strategy.
Devin Williams Steps In as a Dominant Closer
With Clay Holmes leaving for the Mets in free agency, Devin Williams steps effortlessly into the closer role for the Yankees. The 30-year-old right-hander ranks among the league’s most dominant relievers, maintaining an ERA below 1.93 every season since 2022. Although injuries limited him to just 21.2 innings in 2024, Williams’ exceptional talent remains unquestionable. He offers an elite pitch repertoire and a track record of excelling in high-pressure situations.
Williams’ arrival instantly fortifies the Yankees’ bullpen, giving manager Aaron Boone the flexibility to optimize roles for peak performance. In the final year of his contract, which features a $10 million club option, Williams offers exceptional value for a team known for building a cost-effective yet formidable bullpen.
Luke Weaver: The Yankees’ Secret Weapon
With Williams in the mix, Boone gains the flexibility to fully utilize Luke Weaver, a dynamic asset who emerged as a key high-leverage option during the 2024 postseason. The 31-year-old journeyman had a breakout season, delivering 84 innings with a 2.89 ERA, 11.04 strikeouts per nine innings, a 79.4% left-on-base rate, and a 36.4% ground ball rate.
Weaver shined in the playoffs, recording a stellar 1.76 ERA over 15.1 innings and solidifying his status as a key bullpen contributor. The Yankees wisely exercised his $2.5 million club option for the 2025 season, securing one of the most cost-effective relief pitchers in the league.
Weaver’s greatest strength lies in his versatility, making him a dynamic asset for the Yankees’ bullpen. Whether deployed as a closer, setup man, or multi-inning reliever, his adaptability is a game-changer. His fastball, used nearly 50% of the time, averages 95.7 mph and held hitters to a .177 batting average and a .331 slugging percentage last season. Paired with a devastating changeup that limited opponents to a .172 batting average, Weaver has the arsenal to excel in any role Boone assigns him.
Reinventing the Yankees’ Bullpen Strategy
The Yankees have consistently embraced a cost-efficient strategy for constructing their bullpen, leveraging versatile arms like Weaver and dependable closers like Williams. With Williams stepping in for Holmes—who led the league in blown saves last season—the bullpen gains a substantial boost in reliability.
Williams’ track record speaks volumes. In 2023, he notched 36 saves over 58.2 innings, demonstrating his knack for performing in high-pressure situations. His addition guarantees the Yankees a reliable presence at the back end of the bullpen, while allowing Weaver’s versatility to be utilized in other crucial roles throughout the season.
A New Era for Yankees Pitching
The Yankees’ bullpen, led by Williams and bolstered by emerging talents like Weaver, is quickly becoming one of the most formidable in baseball. With Boone now equipped with the flexibility to adjust to any situation, this revamped relief corps puts the Yankees in an excellent position to contend at the highest level in 2025.
