Dodgers Lose Out on Devin Williams as Yankees Trade For Star Reliever
The Los Angeles Dodgers were hoping to add another high-leverage reliever such as Devin Williams to the bullpen this winter. However, the New York Yankees are in the midst of finalizing a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers for the change-up specialist, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
BREAKING: The New York Yankees are finalizing a trade to acquire closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 13, 2024
Williams will head to the Bronx, while starting pitcher Nestor Cortes and infield prospect Caleb Durbin will join the NL Central. Since the Yankees lost out on Juan Soto, the Bombers have added two arms to the pitching staff in starting pitcher Max Fried and now Williams.
Williams missed the first half of the 2024 campaign after undergoing back surgery, but has a career 1.83 ERA in 241 games. He saved 65 games with 22 strikeouts in 141 innings over the last three seasons. Williams was the 2020 NL Rookie of the Year.
Not signing Soto might’ve been a blessing in disguise for the Yankees as it has given them financial flexibility to sign other stars. Both Williams and Cortes had tough final moments with their former teams.
Williams, a two-time All-Star, gave up a three-run, ninth inning homer to New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso in Game 3 of the NL Wild Card series, ultimately costing Milwaukee the opportunity to advance in the postseason.
Cortes only threw two pitches in Game 1 of the World Series. The first resulted in a pop fly from Shohei Ohtani, while the second was Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam.
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The Brewers thought about keeping Williams until the trade deadline, but in a change of direction, struck a deal with the Yankees. Now that Williams is headed to New York, the Dodgers will likely pivot to Tanner Scott to fortify the bullpen.
Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
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Why are we waiting! Williams should have been the Dodgers closer. Snell was fantastic, Edman fantastic, Conforto not so much. Lets finish strong. We are snoozing and losing! We need Teoscar, Sasaki or Burnes, a dominant closer, and H Kim who can play 2nd, short, or third better than anyone on the roster!!
We needed Williams! We need Teoscar, Sasaki or Burnes, a closer, and H Kim who can play 2nd base, short, or third better than anyone on the roster! Lets get this done!!
WHAT DOES LA SEE IN MICHAEL CONFORTO FOR 17 MILLION PER YEAR? HE’S AN AVERAGE PLAYER, NOT A GREAT DEFENDER, WHOlS A .250 CAREER HITTER, AND HAS BOUNCED AROUND MLB THE PAST FEW YEARS. DON’T YOU THINK THEY SHOULD’VE PUT THE CONFORTO MONEY TOWARDS WILLIAMS OR SCOTT? AND FOR GOD SAKES, SIGN TEO HERNANDEZ ALREADY, OR YOU’LL HAVE SUB PAR OUTFIELDER PRODUCTION! I’M SURE DODGER NATION WONDERS WTF THESE PENNY-PINCHERS ARE DOING ESPECIALLY SINCE OHTANI GAVE THEM BEAUCOUP BUCKS TO SIGN A + TALENT! LA GOT LUCKY LAST YEAR; THE BREAKS WENT THEIR WAY, BUT THEY BETTER SUCCESSFULLY STEP UP THEIR SIGNINGS, E.G., SCOTT/TEO), AS WELL AS ROKI SASAKI! BASEBALL IS HARD, SEASON TO SEASON, AND THEY SHOULD STRIKE NOW AS 2024 WS CHAMPS! FA’S LIKE MONEY, BUT THEY ALSO REALLY LIKE PLAYING FOR WS TITLES ON GREAT TEAMS!!