Every offseason brings a few unexpected plot twists, and this year, one of them might come from across town. While the New York Yankees have shown little interest in bringing Devin Williams back after a volatile 2025 season, the New York Mets may see an opportunity hiding in plain sight.
On paper, Williams’ season was rocky. His 4.79 ERA over 62 innings hardly screams “elite reliever,” and the walks were a real problem. But when you start peeling back the layers, the picture gets a lot more interesting — the kind of profile a team with bullpen flexibility and financial room should at least explore.
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Mets are doing exactly that.
Why the Mets see value where the Yankees might not
Williams’ surface numbers were tough to ignore, especially for a Yankees bullpen that needed steadiness, not volatility. He struck out 13.06 batters per nine, but the command issues and uptick in hard contact kept him from ever finding a consistent rhythm.
Still, the underlying data told a different story.
Williams ranked in the 97th percentile in strikeout rate and chase rate, and in the 99th percentile in whiff rate. Very few relievers on the planet miss bats like he does. His fastball and changeup continue to grade out as plus-plus offerings, and the movement profile remains elite.
Passan put it succinctly: “Williams is coming off the worst season of his career with the Yankees, but his peripheral numbers were excellent and his stuff still graded out well-above-average… the Mets are mulling the opportunity to sign Díaz and Williams to head up a bullpen in need of a total restructuring.”
That’s the exact type of pitcher you take a chance on when you’re rebuilding your relief unit from the ground up.
Pairing him with Díaz could transform the entire unit
The Mets’ goal this winter is clear: extend Edwin Díaz and rebuild a bullpen that lacked swing-and-miss ability behind him. They’re negotiating with Díaz already, and bringing in another elite strikeout artist could give them one of the most overpowering one-two punches in baseball.
There’s logic here.
Díaz brings the stability.
Williams brings the upside swing.
If it works, opposing lineups would have to survive two innings of pure torment at the back end of games. If it doesn’t, the contract structure could minimize the damage.
What a deal might look like
Coming off a down year, Williams isn’t walking into a big multiyear agreement. That works in the Mets’ favor.
A one-year deal makes sense for him if he’s trying to reestablish value. A two-year contract with a player option is even more realistic, giving him a chance to cash in if he rebounds — and giving the Mets some cost certainty if he hits his stride.
The Mets need quantity and quality in their bullpen overhaul. Williams offers both the risk and reward profile that fits a team trying to swing the balance back in its favor.
A fresh environment may be all he needs
Sometimes a change of scenery is more than a cliché. Williams struggled in the Bronx, but the raw ingredients for dominance never disappeared. The Mets see that. They see the whiffs. They see the chase. They see the arm talent the data still loves.
And if they land Díaz and Williams together, it could finally give them the kind of bullpen identity they’ve lacked for years.
For a team with big ambitions in 2026, betting on upside — especially at a discount — might be exactly the move they need to make.
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