After Luke Weaver’s dominance out of the bullpen in 2024, the New York Yankees would not commit to him being the closer in 2025. That signaled the Yankees were working on something bigger for the backend of their bullpen.
Enter Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams. The Yankees acquired Williams for starting pitcher Nestor Cortes and utility man Caleb Durbin, league sources said Friday. Williams has a 1.83 ERA in his six-year career and has established himself as one of MLB’s best closers. To complete the trade, the Yankees will also send cash to the Brewers to pay down Cortes’ 2025 salary. He will become a free agent at the end of the season.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said earlier this week that clubs were inquiring about his starting pitching depth availability after the Max Fried signing. Cortes finished the 2024 season with a 3.77 ERA and was one of the Yankees’ starting pitchers who were viewed as a possible candidate to be a No. 5 starter at the start of the 2025 season. Cashman said that Durbin was considered the “odds-on” favorite to start at second base.
When Juan Soto departed for the New York Mets in free agency, the Yankees had to commit to becoming a better run-prevention team. In their first two moves since Soto’s signing, that’s exactly what they’ve done.
This story will be updated.
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