Juan Soto discusses Mets’ failure despite lofty expectations for 2025
After the Mets were eliminated from playoff contention on the season’s final day, Juan Soto discussed what went wrong on Sept. 28, 2025, in Miami.
Devin Williams was one of the first major dominoes to fall in this free agent cycle ahead of the 2026 season, but the new Mets reliever does not believe he made a hasty decision.
The 31-year-old right-hander talked with the teams that were interested. He said each of those clubs was interested in his services in a closer role.
Ultimately, Williams, a two-time All-Star and Reliever of the Year, did not move far in his first crack at free agency. He elected to move from the Bronx to Flushing, agreeing on a three-year, $51 million deal to join the Mets earlier this week.
“They’re a team that wants to win,” Williams said in a video conference on Friday. “(Owner) 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.”
How Edwin Diaz’s future affected Devin Williams’ signing
The future of one Edwin Diaz did not factor into Williams’ decision.
Despite Williams registering 83 combined saves in the last four seasons — three with the Brewers and one with the Yankees — there is a scenario where Diaz, a fellow free agent, could return to the Mets’ closer role where has spent the last seven seasons.
And if that’s the case, Williams would welcome a situation that furthers the team’s goal of winning a World Series.
“I think it’s just a good situation. If (Diaz) comes back, I think we’re going to have a good really back end of the ‘pen,” Williams said. “More good arms is always a good thing. That’s really it.”
Williams said the mindset does not change whether he’s pitching earlier in the game or in the final frame.
Devin Williams comfortable in New York, with Mets
Williams’ world was turned upside down last December when he was dealt from the Brewers to the Yankees in a deal that moved Nestor Cortes and Caleb Durbin to the NL Central. The reliever, who had spent all 12 of his seasons in the Brewers organization after being drafted in the second round of the 2013 MLB Draft, was suddenly under the microscope in baseball’s biggest market.
He struggled out of the gate, allowing 15 earned runs in his first 23 outings to post a 6.53 ERA through the opening two months. Ultimately, he lost his handle on the Yankees’ closer job in early August.
“I feel like there was kind of a lot of factors – some mechanical, pitch selection stuff,” Williams said. “Looking back on that, just kind of reflecting on that and using that to help me prepare for this next season.”
After being relegated to setup role down the stretch, Williams finished strong. He allowed five earned runs across his final 18 innings and tossed four scoreless innings in the playoffs.
Now, Williams feels comfortable in New York. It is familiar. As is his new president of baseball operations, David Stearns, with whom he had spent nine seasons together in the Milwaukee organization.
“I’m familiar with the way that he wants the organization run, the way that they want to do things and their process,” Williams said. “I think it’s another familiarity for me, so it’s all comfortable.”
Devin Williams’ adjustment heading into 2026
Throughout Williams’ career, his “airbender” changeup has been one of the most dynamic pitches in baseball.
During his last All-Star season in 2023, opponents hit .087 against that pitch which induced whiffs 43.2 percent of the time. They fanned 48.8 percent against it in 2024 in his final season with the Brewers.
Despite continuing to have some of the best swing-and-miss stuff with the Yankees last season, opponents had more luck against his fastball. In his new locale, Williams is looking to add in a wrinkle by potentially adding a cutter and gyro slider to add “more breathing room” for his fastball.
“It’s really something that I felt I need to do for a while, but I just really hadn’t put it into play yet,” Williams said. “I mean, I think it’s something that I’ve been working on for years now and it can be a really good pitch for me, I just need to use it.”
That continued to development is another factor that drew Williams to the Mets.
“Obviously they have a track record of kind of helping guys improve on things they already do and maybe adding in a few things,” Williams said. “I think that they’ll be able to help me. I’m really curious to see what they have for me.”