A two-time All-Star during his time with the Milwaukee Brewers, Devin Williams’ stint with the New York Yankees did not go as planned in 2025. The closer ended the regular season with a career-worst 4.79 ERA.
Despite his recent struggles, Williams, who is now a free agent, boasts an impressive 1.83 ERA over the last five seasons. This makes him a high-ceiling option for any team that can unlock his full potential.
During Thursday’s episode of the “Blair & Barker” podcast, insider Jeff Passan speculated that the Toronto Blue Jays could be the team to benefit from signing Williams.
“Devin Williams hits 94-87, so there’s a fastball there,” Passan said (36:30). “The changeup is just an awesome, awesome changeup. I think Williams is just a guy who has a nasty out-pitch that he can also land for strikes.”
Passan added, “I think Devin Williams would be a great addition for the Blue Jays, and I think he will thrive there. But I think it all depends on how much (Toronto Blue Jays owner) Edward Rogers is willing to throw into this organization.”
### Williams Defends His 2025 Performance
Though his ERA doesn’t paint a flattering picture, Williams finished within the top 4 percent of MLB players in strikeout rate, whiff rate, chase rate, and expected batting average — indicators of strong underlying performance.
Speaking to insider Will Sammon of The Athletic, Williams explained why his 2025 ERA was not an accurate reflection of his overall season.
“As far as my feel and my command, I even lowered my walk rate this year, even with kind of the way that the year went,” Williams said. “The statistics ended up the way they were because I had four or five blow-up games. They ended up scoring three or ended up scoring four.”
Williams continued, “I just wasn’t able to get out of it after one run. That contributed to why my ERA looks the way that it did. It wasn’t necessarily like I was bad in every game. It’s just when I had a bad game, it was terrible.”
### What’s Next for Devin Williams?
MLB Trade Rumors predicts that Williams could land a four-year deal this winter, potentially worth around $68 million. Given his track record and underlying metrics, the right team could turn Williams into a dominant closer once again.
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*Edited by Raghav Mehta*
https://www.sportskeeda.com/baseball/news-devin-williams-will-thrive-there-mlb-insider-links-star-free-agent-closer-yankees-al-east-rival