Devin Williams is betting on a big comeback in 2026 with the Mets. But can he truly recapture his dominance after a turbulent year in the Bronx? That's the million-dollar question – or rather, the $51 million question, considering the Mets' investment in him.
Fresh off signing a three-year, $51 million deal with the New York Mets, the high-powered reliever Devin Williams is already looking ahead, and he's not alone. Like many Mets fans, he's hoping for a bullpen boost from a familiar face: Edwin Díaz. Williams, who has experience closing games and setting them up, envisions a formidable late-inning duo with Díaz. "I think it’s just a good situation," Williams said during his introductory video call. "If he comes back, I think we’re going to have a really good back end of the pen. So, more good arms is always a good thing."
The Mets clearly believe they've landed a valuable asset in Williams. His history with team president David Stearns from their time together in Milwaukee is a definite plus. But here's where it gets controversial... Williams' recent experience in New York wasn't exactly a fairytale.
Before joining the Yankees last season, the Missouri native had spent his entire career in Milwaukee, a far cry from the intensity of the Big Apple. That walk-year campaign proved to be a rollercoaster. His performance took a noticeable dip. In his previous three seasons with the Brewers, he boasted an impressive 1.66 ERA, allowing only 26 earned runs in total. However, in 2025 with the Yankees, his ERA ballooned to 4.79, and he surrendered 33 earned runs. By the end of April, he had already lost his role as closer. A series of struggles in late July and early August further compounded the issue, and he became accustomed to the less-than-pleasant sound of boos from the home crowd. And this is the part most people miss... It didn't help that Williams, sporting a beard upon arrival at spring training (which he wasn't thrilled to shave), became the poster boy, so to speak, for the Yankees' strict facial hair policy.
However, Williams attributes his struggles to fixable issues rather than being uncomfortable in his new environment. "I feel like there were kind of a lot of factors really, some mechanical, some pitch-selection type stuff," the 31-year-old explained. "Looking back on it, just kind of reflecting on that and using that to help me prepare for this next season." He acknowledges a learning curve in adapting to the Yankees and New York City, but now says he feels "familiar" with the city. He even took the Subway to Yankees games and might now have to master the 7 line to get to Citi Field. Despite the challenges, Williams demonstrated resilience. He weathered the storms, both from opposing batters and disgruntled fans, and finished the 2025 season strong, with 13 consecutive scoreless outings, including four in the postseason.
Williams is also comfortable with Stearns, his former president of baseball operations in Milwaukee. More importantly, he's increasingly confident in his expanding repertoire. From 2020 to 2025, Williams established himself as one of the game's premier relievers. According to FanGraphs, he was the third-most valuable reliever during that period (trailing only Emmanuel Clase and Díaz), posting a stellar 2.38 ERA and 14.29 strikeouts per nine innings. His success was largely fueled by his signature pitch: a unique and often unhittable changeup nicknamed the "Airbender," complemented by a mid-90s four-seamer. While both pitches remained effective in terms of generating whiffs last season (inducing whiffs at least 37 percent of the time), their overall impact diminished.
Opposing batters slugged .341 against his changeup in 2025, hitting five home runs after not homering against the pitch at all in 2024 (excluding Pete Alonso’s memorable playoff blast). Hitters also improved their batting average against his fastball from .111 to .204. To combat this, Williams is focusing on becoming less predictable. He's been experimenting with a cutter, which he threw only twice last season, and plans to introduce a new, hard slider. "Seeing if I can add those to what I do and give myself a little more breathing room with the fastball and changeup," Williams said, adding that he has felt the need to diversify his arsenal for some time. A Williams who is immediately comfortable in his environment and equipped with a wider range of pitches helps justify the Mets' substantial investment, even though he's coming off a less-than-stellar season and might not be the designated closer.
So, why did Williams, who had other offers, choose the Mets? "They’re a team that wants to win, you know?" Williams explained. "Steve [Cohen is] doing all he can to put a winning product on the field, and I’d love to be a part of that." Is Devin Williams a savvy investment for the Mets, or are they taking a gamble on a reliever who struggled under the New York spotlight? Will his expanded repertoire and renewed comfort level translate to on-field success? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
