Devin Williams didn’t picture his offseason looking like this. A year ago, he was gearing up for free agency as one of the most electric relievers in baseball - a former National League Reliever of the Year with a dominant track record and a changeup so filthy it earned its own nickname: the “Airbender.” But after a turbulent 2025 season in New York, Williams now finds himself in a very different spot - not as a top-tier closer commanding a long-term deal, but as a talented arm looking for the right place to reset.
And Milwaukee, the place where it all started, might just be the right fit.
Williams' lone season with the Yankees never quite clicked. From the jump, his command was off.
He finished the year with a 4.79 ERA over 62 innings - a far cry from his usual dominance - and while he still racked up 90 strikeouts and notched 18 saves, the consistency wasn’t there. His signature changeup didn’t have the same late bite, his walk rate climbed, and his mechanics were out of sync more often than not.
Eventually, the Yankees made a move, trading for David Bednar to take over ninth-inning duties. Williams, once the anchor of a bullpen, was suddenly on the outside looking in.
That kind of season - especially in a contract year - can be costly. And for Williams, it likely was.
He’s said the right things about being open to returning to the Yankees, which is what you’d expect from a free agent trying to keep doors open. But watching his body language throughout the season, it didn’t look like a natural fit.
There’s also been chatter around a possible landing spot with the Dodgers, a team that certainly has the resources to make a competitive offer. But even that kind of deal would be smaller than what Williams might have commanded just 12 months ago.
So now the focus shifts to what comes next - and that’s where Milwaukee reenters the conversation.
A short-term reunion with the Brewers might not be flashy, but it makes a lot of baseball sense. This is the organization that helped mold Williams into an All-Star.
They built the pitching infrastructure that allowed his unique arsenal to flourish, and they know exactly how to unlock his best version. If he’s looking for a place to get right - both mentally and mechanically - Milwaukee checks a lot of boxes.
From the Brewers’ perspective, this is right in their wheelhouse. They’ve long been a team that thrives on smart, efficient moves - finding value where others see risk.
Williams, on a one-year deal, is the definition of a low-risk, high-reward play. They need bullpen help after reshaping their roster, and if anyone knows how to get Williams back to form, it’s Milwaukee’s pitching staff.
For Williams, it’s a chance to breathe, reset, and rebuild his value - without the pressure cooker of a big-market bullpen. If he can recapture even a fraction of his peak form, he’ll be positioned to re-enter free agency next winter with momentum on his side, especially with a thinner 2026-27 reliever class on the horizon.
Sometimes the best way forward is to take a step back - to the place where it all began. And for Devin Williams, a return to Milwaukee might be the perfect opportunity to do just that.