The Los Angeles Dodgers have been on the lookout for a high-leverage relief pitcher this offseason, but haven’t had any luck in finding their man so far.
LA has shown interest in several names so far this offseason who are now off the market, such as Raisel Iglesias, who re-signed with the Atlanta Braves early in the offseason, and Ryan Helsley, who inked a two-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles at the end of November.
Devin Williams is another name the Dodgers had their eyes on this offseason, per The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya and Katie Woo, but they also failed to bring him to the west coast.
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Ardaya and Woo reported the Dodgers were “hot in contention” to bring Williams to LA, but the All-Star right-hander ultimately signed a three-year, $51 million deal with the New York Mets.
Williams spent the first six seasons of his MLB career with the Milwaukee Brewers, cementing himself as one of MLB’s best closers throughout his time in the NL Central. Williams began closing games for the Brew Crew in the 2022 season, where he converted 15 of his 17 opportunities while keeping a 1.93 ERA throughout the season and making his first All-Star Game.
He had an even better campaign in 2023, posting a 1.53 ERA through 61 appearances and recorded 36 saves, twice as many as he had in his entire career prior.
2024 didn’t go as well as Williams would have liked, as he spent the entire first half of the season on the injured list with a back stress fracture. He picked up where he left off that season, though, posting a 1.25 ERA through 22 appearances.
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Williams entered free agency following that season, joining the New York Yankees on a one-year deal. He had a career-worst year in the Bronx, posting a 4.79 ERA through a career-high 62 innings pitched. He still had a few solid stretches of games throughout the season, but not enough to keep him in a Yankees uniform.
The Dodgers clearly saw Williams as a prime change of scenery candidate, but will have to solve their issues in the bullpen elsewhere after his signing.
Photo Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
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