Mets agree to three-year deal with reliever Devin Williams

NEW YORK -- In establishing his reputation as an ace bullpen architect, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has long sought high-octane stuff in relievers. Monday, he acquired one of the most potent arms in the sport.

In their pursuit of an improved bullpen, the Mets agreed to a three-year deal with free-agent reliever Devin Williams, the club announced on Wednesday. The $45 million deal includes a $6 million signing bonus, which brings the total guarantee to $51 million, albeit with deferrals, per source.

The signing will bring Williams across town from the rival Yankees, where he spent all last season.

Of note, multiple sources said the Mets still have interest in re-signing incumbent closer Edwin Díaz even after agreeing to terms with Williams. The latter is comfortable serving in a setup role if the Mets do retain Díaz, according to one of those sources.

Williams did not receive a qualifying offer from the Yankees, so there is no Draft pick compensation attached to him, or penalty for signing him.

On the surface, Williams had the worst season of his career in 2025. In 67 appearances after being dealt from the Brewers to the Yankees the prior December, the right-hander posted a 4.79 ERA. He had entered the 2025 campaign with a career ERA of 1.83 in six seasons with Milwaukee.

But a look under the hood reveals that Williams actually had some bad luck last season. His FIP was more than two runs lower than his ERA, at 2.68. And his expected ERA was 3.04. The hard-hit rate against him -- while a career high -- wasn’t alarmingly high, at 35.7%.

• How Williams' deal with Mets impacts the relief market

His signature “airbender” changeup was still effective in 2025, though not quite as dominant as in years past -- opponents hit .194 against the pitch last season and it generated a 37.3% whiff rate. It is that pitch upon which Williams built his career. It is also that pitch that Pete Alonso famously hit for a go-ahead, three-run homer in the ninth inning of 2024 Wild Card Series Game 3. Williams hasn't enjoyed his usual levels of success since that night.

Primarily a two-pitch pitcher with a mid-90s four-seam fastball and the changeup, Williams used the changeup more than the four-seamer last season, as he’s done for most of his career -- 52.4% to 47.4%.

Williams’ results toward the end of the regular season were encouraging. Over his final nine appearances, he didn’t give up a run while walking two and striking out 12 in nine innings. The two-time All-Star then appeared in four postseason games for the Yankees, throwing four more scoreless frames.

During his seven-year Major League career, Williams has been relatively durable, outside of a 2024 season that saw him miss significant time due to stress fractures in his back. He made his season debut on July 28, and in 22 appearances the rest of that season with Milwaukee, he posted a 1.25 ERA and struck out 43.2% of the batters he faced.

Considering his track record, there’s plenty of reason to believe Williams could have a bounce-back campaign at age 31 in 2026. The Mets, who finished 15th in the Majors in bullpen ERA this year, will be counting on it.

Much of Williams' story in Queens will depend upon the role in which he serves. If the Mets can re-acquire Díaz, who is a free agent for the first time in his career, they will create one of the better 1-2 bullpen punches in the game. Both the Mets and Díaz have expressed mutual interest in a reunion, but Díaz recently assessed the odds at "50-50." He's seeking a multi-year deal on the open market.