NEW YORK. – In their bid to reinforce the bullpen for the 2026 season, the New York Mets reached a three-year, $45 million agreement with free agent reliever Devin Williams, according to multiple sources close to the negotiation. The team has not yet made the signing official.
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Williams, who pitched the entire 2025 campaign with the Yankees, will now cross the city to join the New York rival. Despite having the most statistically discreet season of his career —4.79 ERA in 67 appearances— the Mets believe that his actual performance was better than what the traditional numbers indicate.
The club is interested in retaining Puerto Rican closer Edwin Díaz, and if they succeed, Williams would be willing to take on the role of setup man, according to one of the sources consulted.
The Yankees chose not to extend a qualifying offer to the right-hander, so the Mets will not have to give up Draft picks or face penalties.
A Deceptive 2025: Better Metrics Than It Seems
Despite its high effectiveness, advanced statistics show that Williams was a victim of bad luck. His FIP was 2.68 —more than two runs below his actual effectiveness— and his expected ERA was 3.04. Although he allowed a hard contact percentage of 35.7%, the highest of his career, this was not considered alarming.
His signature “airbender” changeup, still effective, generated a rival batting average of just .194 and a 37.3% whiff rate in 2025.
With a four-seam fastball that reaches 95 mph and his dominant changeup, Williams once again relied mostly on this last pitch last season (52.4% usage).
Positive signs at the end of the season
Williams finished 2025 with an encouraging streak: nine scoreless appearances, with just two walks and 12 strikeouts in nine innings. In the postseason, he pitched four additional scoreless innings with the Yankees.
Throughout his seven seasons in the Major Leagues, Williams has been consistent and durable, except for 2024, when he missed time due to stress fractures in his back. After returning that year, he recorded a brilliant 1.25 ERA in 22 appearances with Milwaukee.
Projection for 2026
At 31 years old, Williams arrives in Queens as a strategic bet with comeback potential. His history, advanced metrics, and dominant repertoire suggest he could become a key figure in the final part of the games for the Mets.
Williams, who pitched the entire 2025 campaign with the Yankees, will now cross the city to join the New York rival. Despite having the most statistically discreet season of his career —4.79 ERA in 67 appearances— the Mets believe that his actual performance was better than what the traditional numbers indicate.
The club is interested in retaining Puerto Rican closer Edwin Díaz, and if they succeed, Williams would be willing to take on the role of setup man, according to one of the sources consulted.
The Yankees chose not to extend a qualifying offer to the right-hander, so the Mets will not have to give up Draft picks or face penalties.
