The New York Yankees made a bold move in their offseason, trading Nestor Cortes and infield prospect Caleb Durbin to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for one of baseball’s most dominant closers, Devin Williams. Known for his incredible “Airbender” changeup, Williams now takes over as the Yankees’ closer, providing a much-needed boost to a bullpen that struggled without a consistent shutdown arm after the departure of Clay Holmes this offseason.
A Significant Upgrade in the Bullpen
While Holmes had his moments in New York, his inconsistency made him unreliable in high-pressure situations. Williams, on the other hand, has been nearly flawless when healthy. Although he only pitched 21.2 innings last season due to injury, he posted an outstanding 1.25 ERA, with a staggering 15.78 strikeouts per nine innings and a 92.6% left-on-base rate. Since becoming the Brewers’ closer in 2021, Williams has maintained an ERA under 2.00, making him one of the most effective and affordable closers in the league at just $8.6 million for arbitration this year. If he stays healthy, Williams has the potential to be one of the Yankees’ top offseason acquisitions.
The “Airbender” Comes to New York
Williams’ signature pitch, the “Airbender” changeup, is one of the most unhittable offerings in the game. Averaging 84.4 mph with a jaw-dropping 42.3 inches of vertical drop and 19.4 inches of horizontal movement, it left opposing hitters struggling last season with a .162 batting average and a .216 slugging percentage. Williams himself explains that the pitch is simple to him but difficult to describe: “It’s a four-seam changeup grip, and I pronate it. I know what I want to do with it.”
Even Yankees manager Aaron Boone was in awe after seeing Williams’ signature pitch in action, admitting that standing behind it for the first time was an impressive experience.
DEVIN WILLIAMS
Parting Ways with Cortes
In order to acquire Williams, the Yankees had to part with fan-favorite Nestor Cortes, known for his unorthodox windups and crafty pitching style. Although losing Cortes stings for fans, the Yankees’ rotation remains strong with the addition of Max Fried, and they felt confident in their pitching depth. Caleb Durbin, a promising infielder, was also included in the trade, though he was expected to compete for playing time at second base. With the Yankees moving Jazz Chisholm to second, they plan to leave third base open for competition or a potential midseason acquisition.
A One-Year Window with Williams
Williams is entering the final year of arbitration before becoming a free agent next offseason. If he performs to his potential, he’ll likely earn a massive contract. However, the Yankees will have the financial flexibility to keep him long-term if he delivers as expected. For now, New York can relish the luxury of having one of the game’s most dominant bullpen weapons, with the confidence that Williams will be ready to close out games when the ninth inning arrives.
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