New York Mets Sign Devin Williams To 3-Year Deal

The New York Mets’ busy offseason continues, signing former Yankees Reliever Devin Williams to a three-year deal with over $50 million in guaranteed money, per Jeff Passan. It is unclear where Williams will fit in the bullpen with Edwin Diaz still unsigned.

Mets Make a Big Splash

After acquiring Marcus Semien from the Texas Rangers, the Mets are adding to their pitching staff in a big way. Williams’ contract is for three years and $45 million, with $5 million in deferred compensation annually, plus a $6 million signing bonus over the term, per Jon Heyman. Adding relievers is always expensive, and the Mets wasted no time getting ahead of the market. His deal doesn’t include any options or opt-outs, meaning they have him under control until the 2028 season.

While he did struggle with the Yankees, it’s likely that he bounces back in Queens. He was very unlucky in the Bronx and still had good underlying metrics. His strikeout percentage was elite, at 34.7%, ranking in the 97th percentile. The biggest change from when he was with the Brewers was increased use of his fastball, which he threw 8% more often than in 2023.

The Mets bullpen is adding a ton of swing-and-miss with Williams, and he has proven he can handle high-leverage situations and get key outs in the 9th inning, but was better in lower-leverage situations with the Yankees. The hardest part for him last year was the number of different roles he was in. Going from closing to the eighth inning, to the seventh, back to closing, and even the sixth inning was just too much for him to handle. His role with the Mets should be more concrete.

Will They Retain Edwin Diaz?

Early reports indicate that adding Williams doesn’t rule the Mets out of the sweepstakes for Edwin Diaz. Anthony DiComo noted that if Diaz returns, Williams is willing to shift from a closing role to a setup role, just as he did when Luke Weaver became the closer last season. If they want to re-sign the three-time All-Star, the Mets will likely spend over $20 million per season on the back end of their bullpen.

David Stearns is looking to add a veteran starter to pair with young talent like Nolan McLean. New York has work to do to return to contention, but adding Williams and Semien, who both joined the team this offseason, is a promising start.