I'm not saying I expect Williams to turn in to prime Diaz, or even prime Devin Williams. But his single awful season is comparable to Diaz's worst, and the perephirals aren't that far off Diaz at the same age. I think that if we'd signed Diaz to a deal ASA free agent after 2019, people would have lost their minds, and then we'd have missed some dominating seasons from him.
I'd rather have Williams set up Diaz for the next three years, but if we've got him in the ninth this year, I'm hopeful for a really good bounce back season. It won't be the first time we've seen it recently.
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The more I look at this picture the more grossed out by their facial I become lol
Not a comparable situation in my opinion. Diaz was entirely due to the juiced balls. His HR rate is completely out of norm for his career as are some of his statcast numbers. Williams’s numbers aren’t driven by HRs. His barrel rate got a lot worse, he walks a lot of people, but he doesn’t give up hits.
He had a bad season, but you can also say that his bad season doesn’t have repeatability since it was due largely in part to not being able to strand runners. His WHIP is still good. His barrel rate got worse and his walk rates have always been bad, but there’s reason for optimism. But I want Diaz back here and I think it’s essential that he is
Diaz had 26 saves in year one? Bro it felt like he had none 😭
Agreed relievers are notoriously finicky. Could be the best reliever in the league but then they have a regression year. Williams was looking good end of the last season and in the playoffs. He’s going to be fine, great bounce back candidate to his norm.
People forget how inconsistent Diaz has been. He’s had 2 dominant years but lost his closers job early in 2024. I love the whole “Narco” thing and the aura but he’s just as much of a crapshoot, if not more historically, than Williams is.
I think I’m alone in this, but am I the only one still needing to see more track record after Williams two back fractures in 2024?
Maybe it’s an issue long term or maybe 2025 being first year after explains his up & down, and perhaps if fully healed can have a better 2026. Backs are funny; it’s a known beforehand risk issue, have to trust Mets physicals & coaches on this one.
Random correlation that would fail a stat test.
Wasn’t Diaz first year the juiced ball year?
Diaz has also lost some of his fastball. He’s still a crapshoot himself
People keep pointing to the juiced ball but iirc he had issues locating his slider and would compound that by throwing a hanging slider/flat fastball that hitters teed off on.
Devin Williams had the second highest K rate in the second half of last year.
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Thank you, Yankees, for giving our stars a chance to acclimate to playing in NYC on your dime 🙏
People shitting on Williams for a rough year last year but already forgot Diaz has a down year literally every other season. Get them both and we’ll be good
DIaz was throwing 101-102 in 2022. in 2023 and 2024 he threw 97-100.
in 2025 he threw 94-97…..
I am not sure why this fanbase is going nuts to sign an aging pitcher who showed signs of his age last year to a 5 year 100m deal.
Hes a great met and we love him and his entrance music, but its ridiculous to overpay him because of a cool song.
Love the move. He had a year to adjust to NY. And he won’t be playing in that stadium anymore. Which should also help. He still has great stuff
I don’t think you can compare a juiced ball season performance against a non-juiced ball season performance and have it be an equal comparison.