Yankees acquire RP Devin Williams from Brewers for Nestor Cortes, Caleb Durbin

The New York Yankees have acquired reliever Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers, it was announced on Friday. Pitcher Nestor Cortes, infield prospect Caleb Durbin and some cash is on his way to Milwaukee.

The 30-year-old Williams recorded 14 saves in 22 appearances last season with the Brewers. He missed the first three months of the season with a stress fracture in his back. After he returned, Williams allowed just three earned runs over 21 2/3 innings in the regular season.

In the postseason, Williams made two appearances in Milwaukee’s series against the New York Mets. It was Williams who gave up Pete Alonso’s ninth-inning home run in Game 3 that sparked the Mets’ series-clinching rally.

The Brewers declined Williams’ $10.5 million option for the 2025 season, and he enters his final arbitration season in 2025.

Williams, a two-time NL All-Star and 2020 NL Rookie of the Year, spent all six of his MLB seasons with the Brewers, taking over the closer role, picking up 68 saves in 235 2/3 innings while posting a 1.83 ERA and 1.02 WHIP.

The addition of Williams, plus the return of Jonathan Loáisiga, who is coming off Tommy John surgery, will bolster the Yankees’ bullpen. The question remains whether manager Aaron Boone will use Williams or Luke Weaver as the team’s closer in 2025.

Clay Holmes, who was the Yankees’ closer until he lost the job to Weaver, signed with the New York Mets last week.

Cortes has turned himself into a reliable starter since he began seeing an increased workload in 2021. He made 84 starts over the past four seasons for the Yankees (173 1/3 innings in 2024), but with the addition of Max Fried on the Yankees, it was clear that someone in the rotation had to be moved.