The New York Yankees made the grade trading for Milwaukee Brewers’ closer Devin Williams, ESPN insider David Schoenfield argues.
In the deal, which Schoenfield gave an “A” grade, the Yankees dealt from their surplus of starting pitching, sending lefty Nestor Cortes, prospect infielder Caleb Durbin, and cash to Milwaukee to get one of the most effective closers in the game.
“It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say Williams is the best closer in the game. Since his Rookie of the Year season in 2020, he has a 1.70 ERA, first working primarily as a setup man to Josh Hader and then taking over as closer. He missed the first four months of 2024 with a stress fracture in his back but was as good as ever when he returned -- at least until the playoffs, when the Mets scored four runs off him in the ninth inning of the deciding game of the wild-card series (including the memorable Pete Alonso home run),” Schoenfield wrote.
After losing free-agent slugger Juan Soto to the Mets, the Yankees pivoted quickly to strengthening their run prevention. They first signed lefty Max Fried as a front-of-the-rotation starter, which gave them seven starters, allowing them to deal Cortes.
“Flipping a solid starter in Cortes for maybe the best closer in the game aligns perfectly with their needs. Both players are in their final year before free agency and projected to make similar $7.7 million salaries in arbitration, so the Yankees threw in a little cash and a prospect to entice the Brewers to swing the trade,” Schoenfield wrote.
The Yankees had Luke Weaver closing at the end of last season and have him back to be a multi-inning set-up man for Williams, That could be one of the strongest back-of-the-bullpen in the game.
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