The New York Yankees acquired closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday in exchange for left-hander Nestor Cortes, a prospect and cash considerations.
Williams, a 30-year-old right-hander, is a two-time All-Star (2022, 2023) and former National League Rookie of the Year with 68 saves and a 1.83 ERA in six seasons with Milwaukee.
Cortes, also 30, was an All-Star in 2022 and is coming off a 9-10 season with a 3.77 ERA in 31 games (30 starts) for New York. He is 33-21 with a 3.80 ERA in 135 games (86 starts) with three teams since 2018.
Caleb Durbin, a 24-year-old infielder, batted .275 with 10 homers, 60 RBIs and 31 stolen bases in 90 games across three levels in the minors in 2024.
The Brewers also received $4.5 million from the Yankees in the transaction, USA Today reported.
Williams’ final season with Milwaukee was bookended by an injury and a disastrous blown save.
He began the season on the injured list with a stress fracture in his back and did not pitch in the majors until July 28. Once healthy, Williams posted a 1.25 ERA in 22 relief appearances to help Milwaukee win its second straight NL Central title.
Williams secured the save in Game 2 of the Brewers’ wild-card series against the visiting New York Mets but imploded in the decisive Game 3 the next night. He entered in the ninth with a 2-0 lead before surrendering four runs, including Pete Alonso’s go-ahead three-run homer, as New York rallied to win 4-2.
–Field Level Media
