Report: Yankees acquiring Brewers closer Devin Williams

Field Level Media|published: Fri 13th December, 13:12 2024

MLB: Milwaukee Brewers at Pittsburgh Pirates

Sep 26, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Devin Williams (38) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the ninth inning at PNC Park. The Brewers won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The New York Yankees are acquiring closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for southpaw Nestor Cortes and a prospect, multiple outlets reported Friday.

Williams, 30, is a two-time All-Star (2022, 2023) and former National League Rookie of the Year with 68 saves and a 1.83 ERA in six seasons with Milwaukee.

Cortes, also 30, was an All-Star in 2022 and is coming off a 9-10 season with a 3.77 ERA in 31 games (30 starts) for New York. He is 33-21 with a 3.80 ERA in 135 games (86 starts) with three teams since 2018.

Caleb Durbin, a 24-year-old infielder, is also going to the Brewers in the deal, per the reports. Durbin batted .275 with 10 homers, 60 RBIs and 31 stolen bases in 90 games across three levels in the minors in 2024.

Williams' final season with Milwaukee was bookended by an injury and a disastrous blown save.

He began the season on the injured list with a stress fracture in his back and did not pitch in the majors until July 28. Once healthy, Williams posted a 1.25 ERA in 22 relief appearances to help Milwaukee win its second straight NL Central title.

Williams secured the save in Game 2 of the Brewers' wild-card series against the visiting New York Mets but imploded in the decisive Game 3 the next night. He entered in the ninth with a 2-0 lead before surrendering four runs, including Pete Alonso's go-ahead three-run homer, as New York rallied to win 4-2.

--Field Level Media