The New York Mets have made a major move to bolster their bullpen, landing former Yankees reliever Devin Williams on a three-year, $45 million deal that includes a $6 million signing bonus and deferred payments, bringing the total guaranteed value to $51 million. It’s a statement signing-and one that signals the Mets aren’t waiting around to see how the rest of the offseason shakes out.
Williams, who was one of the top relief arms on the market, now shifts boroughs in a deal that could reshape the back end of the Mets’ bullpen. The move comes on the heels of Raisel Iglesias re-upping with the Braves and Ryan Helsley heading to the Orioles, further thinning a high-leverage reliever class that was already short on elite options.
The Mets’ pursuit of bullpen help was no secret, and Williams gives them a proven late-inning weapon-even if 2025 wasn’t his sharpest campaign. After being traded from Milwaukee to the Yankees last offseason, Williams struggled to find his footing in the Bronx.
He finished the year with a 4.79 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and 18 saves in 22 chances. Not terrible, but not the dominance we’ve come to expect from a guy who once made hitters look foolish with his signature airbender changeup.
By late April, the Yankees had removed Williams from the closer role, opting instead to go with David Bednar in the ninth. Williams settled into a setup role, and while inconsistency plagued much of his season, he did finish strong with a stretch of nine consecutive scoreless outings in September-a reminder of the upside he still brings to the mound.
The Dodgers, who have been linked to several top-tier relievers this offseason, were reportedly in the mix for Williams as well. They were also said to have made a competitive offer to Iglesias before he chose to stay in Atlanta on a one-year, $16 million deal.
The Dodgers’ bullpen was up and down in 2025, and their pursuit of Williams reportedly dated back to last winter, when the Brewers were shopping him. Williams himself said during his Yankees introduction that he thought L.A. was going to be the team to land him.
Instead, it’s the Mets who get the deal done-and with it, they add a key piece to a bullpen that could be in flux depending on what happens with Edwin Díaz. The former All-Star closer is still a free agent, and while the door remains open for a return, Williams gives the Mets some much-needed security at the back end. Whether he steps into the closer role or pairs with Díaz in a two-headed monster scenario, the Mets now have options-and leverage.
This signing isn’t just about replacing production; it’s about reshaping the bullpen’s identity. Williams, even in a down year, showed flashes of the dominance that made him a household name in Milwaukee. If he can rediscover that form in Queens, the Mets just added one of the nastiest arms in baseball to their late-inning mix.
And if Díaz walks? Well, the Mets have already got their insurance policy in place.