The New York Mets surprisingly signed Devin Williams on Monday to a three-year $50 million contract, according to Jeff Passan. The deal reportedly comes with no opt-outs or options, according to Passan. Williams is going from the Bronx to Queens, as he spent last season with the New York Yankees after being traded from the Milwaukee Brewers. The 2025 season was his worst in the MLB as he blew countless games and ultimately put up a 4.79 ERA in 62 innings.
Williams struggled especially early in the season, then had a couple of good outings; consistency was his main problem. He would have a good twenty-inning scoreless streak going and then a couple of weeks later would walk the ballpark, give up bloop hits, or give up home runs to raise the blood pressure of the entire fanbase. One thing to keep in mind is the fact that Williams got better as the season went on. He pitched to a 0.00 ERA in the postseason in four innings, including a 25% strikeout rate and four strikeouts against the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays.
What does this signing mean for the Mets’ beloved closer Edwin Diaz, who’s currently a free agent and is the best closer in baseball? Teams don’t usually spend $50 million on setup men and pay a closer, but Steve Cohen has the pockets to do as he may. According to Anthony DiComo, the Mets are still interested in re-signing Diaz even after signing Williams. This would pair one of the best reliever duos in all of major league baseball in terms of straight-up strikeout stuff.
Diaz is coming off a 38% strikeout rate, 1.63 ERA, and 48.1 ground ball percentage season in 66.1 innings. He also had a 2.45 Expected ERA, a .170 Expected Batting Average, and a 41.5% whiff rate in his age-31 season. Díaz is absolutely disgusting, and New York fans might riot if he isn’t re-signed after a season in which he was heavily relied upon and he’s also been part of their core since 2019. At their peaks, these are easily two of the five best closers in all of baseball, and having them paired together would be unreal.
Jul 15, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; National League pitcher Edwin Diaz (39) of the New York Mets pitches in the ninth inning during the 2025 MLB All Star Game at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Williams still excelled with a 34.7% strikeout rate, 35% chase rate, and 37.7% whiff rate in a down season. In the 2025 season, he struggled for about two-thirds of the season to generate whiffs and strikeouts, especially on his elite “airbender” changeup. It’s tough when he’s not able to get people to swing and miss on his changeup because his fastball doesn’t have the same bite on it, even at over 94 miles per hour. Williams blew four saves overall, lost 6 games, but he was quite unlucky with a .195 Expected Batting Average and a 2.68 Fielding Independent Pitching. FIP is a statistic used to measure pitchers without luck and defense, only accounting for things that they can personally control, like strikeouts, walks, home runs, etc.
Williams also had a 3.09 expected ERA, and he turned it on towards the end of the regular season, into the playoffs for the Yankees. He looked like his Brewers self when it mattered most for New York, but he caused them a ton of pain, especially early on in the season.
Williams lost his closer role to Luke Weaver, got it back, then lost it to David Bednar. Yankees manager Aaron Boone had the utmost confidence in him because of his track record and upper-echelon stuff. Fans were clamoring for him to be removed from the closer role for a while, and it took forever for him to do so even after many catastrophic outings. There’s no doubt in my mind that Williams will regain his upper-echelon form with the Mets, as they once again sign a former Yankees player. Last year, famously with Juan Soto, but also Clay Holmes, and their manager, Carlos Mendoza, in 2023.
Initially, it looked like he couldn’t handle New York and the pressure that comes with it, especially coming from Milwaukee. Williams’ command has always been shoddy, but the lack of strikeouts and barrels given up was astonishing. A funny wrinkle about all of this is the fact that current Mets free agent first baseman Pete Alonso hit a clutch three-run home run to go up 3-2 vs. the Brewers off him. This occurred in the 2024 Wild Card round in a win or go home game 3, New York was down to their second-to-last out, and they might become teammates if Alonso re-signs this offseason.
The Mets are getting one of the best relievers in baseball in Williams, and they’re ownership is so great that Diaz might still return as well. There’s no doubt in my mind that he will at the minimum put up a sub-2.50 if not 2.00 ERA season in Queens next season. He was extremely unlucky, uncharacteristically gave up more damage contact than he did in years past, and also didn’t have enough swing and miss on his changeup for the longest time.
This signing instantly debunks the idea that Williams wasn’t able to handle New York and pitch under the bright lights, as the lights are still bright down there with the Mets. New York fans should be excited by this potential duo and realize how lucky they are to have an owner like Steve Cohen, who puts his money where his mouth is.
Oct 8, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Devin Williams (38) reacts after giving up a two run RBI during the seventh inning during game four of the ALDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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