After acquiring Juan Soto for just one season and failing to keep him as a free agent, the New York Yankees are taking a similar risk with Devin Williams.
The Yankees acquired the All-Star closer from the Milwaukee Brewers for left-hander Nestor Cortes and infield prospect Caleb Durbin on Friday. The Yankees will also send $2 million to the Brewers as part of the trade.
“He’s a year away from free agency but someone that we’ve tried to acquire for a number of years,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. “I’m sure we weren’t the only bidders here in the end.”
Williams, a 30-year-old right-hander, is eligible for free agency after the 2025 season. He was diagnosed with two stress fractures in his back during spring training and didn’t make his season debut until July 28.
“Certainly not trying to downplay the impact that Devin had, but we feel like we still have a good amount of strength there with our bullpen,” Brewers general manager Matt Arnold said.
Williams went 14 for 15 in save opportunities with a 1.25 ERA. He struck out 38 batters and walked 11 among 88 batters over 21 2/3 innings. His fastball averaged 94.7 mph, and he threw it on 53.5% of his pitches. He mixed in 45% changeups, known as the “Airbender,” and about 1.5% cutters.
Williams’ 43.2% strikeout percentage was the highest in Major League Baseball among pitchers with at least 20 innings.
“Certainly doesn’t seem to be afraid,” Cashman said. “You can’t do that job if you’re afraid of the big stage.”
Williams, an All-Star in 2022 and 2023, was drafted in the second round in 2013. He has a career record of 27-10 with a 1.83 ERA and 68 saves in 78 chances over six seasons. He has struck out 375 batters and walked 112 in 235 2/3 innings over 241 games.
Milwaukee declined a $10.5 million club option for Williams, instead choosing to buy him out for $250,000 last month, which made him eligible for arbitration.
Williams joins a bullpen that includes Luke Weaver, who took over as closer from Clay Holmes in September, Jake Cousins, and Ian Hamilton. The Yankees do not have a left-handed reliever on their 40-man roster.
“If you have right-handers that can neutralize lefties, that’s a benefit. It limits your desperation for immediately a left-on-left,” Cashman said.
Cortes, who turned 30 on Tuesday, was an All-Star in 2022, when he went 12-4 with a career-best 2.44 ERA in 28 starts. He only made one start after May 30 in 2023 because of a strained left rotator cuff. He was sidelined late in 2024 by a flexor strain in his left elbow.
He returned for the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, entering in the 10th inning of the opener. He retired Shohei Ohtani on a foulout with his first pitch but gave up a game-ending grand slam to Freddie Freeman on his second.
“He’s had a fully healthy offseason,” Arnold said. “We expect him to come into camp ready to go as normal.”
Cortes, known for his varied pitching deliveries, has a record of 33-21 with a 3.80 ERA in 86 starts and 49 relief appearances over seven seasons. He is eligible for arbitration and can also become a free agent after next season.
“He brings real stability, I think, to our rotation,” Arnold said. “Somebody that’s been a major piece of a really good championship-caliber team in the New York Yankees, I think will fit us very well, especially after the loss of Willy Adames.”
The Yankees had an excess of starters after reaching an agreement with left-hander Max Fried for $218 million over eight years. The rotation is also expected to include ace Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Luis Gil, and Clarke Schmidt, with Marcus Stroman also available.
Durbin, 25, hit .287 with 10 homers, 60 RBIs, and 29 stolen bases at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season.
“We just felt it was harder to acquire someone at the level of Devin Williams than it would be to try to figure out the infield circumstances,” Cashman said.
Durbin was with the big league team last spring training.
“I think he’s a stud,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said last month. “Great bat-to-ball, elite ability on the bases as a base stealer, good defender in the middle of the diamond, second base. He’s really started over the last year-plus to create some position flexibility, too. He’s played some short, he’s played some third. We introduced him to some outfield this year.”
Durbin hit .312 with five homers, 21 RBIs, and 29 steals in 24 games in the Arizona Fall League.
“We love the style of game that he brings to our team,” Arnold said. “I think that’s going to be a really nice fit with Pat Murphy’s style of baseball.”
Cashman said he’s spoken with Scott Boras about his remaining free-agent clients, including third baseman Alex Bregman and first baseman Pete Alonso.
“Certainly respect the player and his ability and how much winning he’s been a part of,” Cashman said of Bregman, “but that’s about as far as I will say at this point.”
