The Mets made their first major free agent signing of the offseason on Monday, inking reliever Devin Williams to a three-year contract worth $51 million. The two-time All-Star is coming off a down year with the Yankees, but his underlying metrics and strong finish to the season indicate that he can still be an elite reliever. Williams is also reportedly open to working in a setup role, keeping the door open that the Mets can still re-sign Edwin Díaz. The MMO team gave their thoughts on the Williams signing.
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Nick Kalantzopoulos
I think it’s a good, solid signing for the Mets. Considering the track record and age for Williams, I think it’s a fair deal for both sides.
I’m also trying to avoid the “this move is only good if…” argument that so many have made when it comes to this signing in regard to Diaz and also the Nimmo trade. I think they are still one elite reliever away. Is Diaz my top choice? Yes. But if you were fine with Williams/Suarez/Fairbanks all as set up men to Diaz, and instead they brought in two of those three and not Diaz, you can’t be upset about that.
So, on its own as a back-end reliever signing, I give it a B+.
Mojo Hill
I agree with Nick. Relying on Williams to be the closer might be a little unsatisfying after being spoiled by Díaz, but he’s absolutely one of the top arms on the market and, at the very least, should help shore up the late innings.
Williams’ 2025 was kind of shockingly bad. Before last year, he had a 1.83 ERA over parts of six MLB seasons. The fact that he was able to do that with a 4.3 BB/9 is kind of amazing. Ironically, his walk rate actually went down this year despite his ERA going up to 4.79. His FIP was still a very good 2.68, so that, combined with his pristine track record, makes him a prime bounceback candidate. Relievers can be fickle, so I like that the contract isn’t absurdly long.
It’s kind of funny that the Mets figuratively broke Williams when Pete Alonso hit that infamous home run off him, and now Williams is a Met. If you can’t beat them, join them, I guess. Now it’ll be extra interesting to see if the Mets bring back Alonso, which would make the enemies teammates.
I give it a B+ as well.
Dave Melendi
It’s a good move to add an established arm to the bullpen, and he can close if Edwin Diaz leaves. But decades of trauma, from Doug Sisk to Mel Rojas to Ryan Helsley, make me lukewarm on virtually any relief pitcher signing. It’s in my Mets fan DNA.
I’m not a big believer in the “he can’t handle playing in New York” thing. I think if there was a study done on players who moved to (insert any city here), you would see similar patterns, but New York failures gain more attention. That said, Williams did just have the worst season of his career in New York.
Matt Tutrone
David Stearns loves his Brewers, huh? One bad season in the Bronx doesn’t scare me. Neither does one really good swing from Pete Alonso in the 2024 playoffs. Devin Williams has been a top high-leverage reliever for years, and he’s in his prime. This seems like a very fair deal for a potential game-changer in the bullpen. It’s another quality move by the Mets early in this offseason.Going to give this a solid A.
Mathias Altman-Kurosaki
I had a strong feeling that Williams would be a Met this offseason – he has ties to David Stearns and the team needs arms. His 2025 was rather perplexing – everything suggests he’s still a great pitcher, except his ERA. I’d be more comfortable if the Mets signed a closer (doesn’t necessarily have to be Edwin Díaz) and have Williams be the setup man, but considering the cost, this is a solid move. I’ll give it a B+
Johnluke Chaparro
Just like Mathias, I had a feeling Devin Williams would be a Met, but not this off-season, but when David Stearns initially took the POBO job. Williams seems like the kind of pitcher he would go for, and it makes sense with his ties to the Stearns Brewers era. I like the move, but would like it more if they are able to pair him with Edwin Diaz. Although a down year in the Bronx (which he finished on a good note) may look like he isn’t much,
Williams is still one of the premier relievers in the game today and has shown that he can pitch in New York. The move in a vacuum is fine, but it would look a lot better paired with Diaz or another reliever to use as a late-game tandem. Not even worried about the cost. The Mets did well here. I’ll give the signing a B.
Kai Chang
Despite the rough 4.79 ERA in 2025, Williams still merits a $51 million deal. His strikeout-to-walk rate dipped to 25.1%, but sustaining last year’s otherworldly 30.7% was never realistic; the only other time he cleared 30% was during the shortened 2020 season. His other underlying metrics remained elite. At a $17 million AAV, David Stearns adds a top-end bullpen arm at a discount compared with the current market for pitchers like Josh Hader and Tanner Scott.
Where this deal could shine most effectively is as a “super-bullpen” move. Slotting Williams into the eighth shortens games even more — if the Mets follow through on the necessary second step of bringing back Edwin Díaz for the ninth. This is a solid A-.
Allison Waxman
For me, it’s hard to give this signing a grade without seeing what comes next. 2025 aside, Devin Williams has been one of the elite closers since his debut in 2019. Regardless of career worsts in ERA (4.79), xERA (3.09), and left on base percentage (55.2%), Williams still posted elite figures in chase rate (97th percentile), strikeout percentage (97th percentile,) and whiff percentage (99th percentile).
Because of the down year, it feels hard to trust Williams as a closer right now. However, if the Mets re-sign Edwin Díaz, a one-two punch of Williams and Díaz could be lethal for opponents. Super bullpens have failed in the past, but the Mets need to pad their weakest link with as much gusto as possible. Williams is a start, but shouldn’t feel like an end.
Grade: B if Mets use Williams as a closer/A if Díaz is re-signed and Williams is a set-up man.
Christian De Block
Last offseason, Devin Williams was someone I was interested in. 12 months later, he is a Met, and I am certainly excited about it. Of course, more work needs to be done in the bullpen, but if we are looking at this move individually, it’s a good addition.
Williams pitched well down the stretch in 2025 for the Yankees, showcasing the levels he produced so often with the Brewers early in his career. Can he be an effective, dominant closer in New York? Absolutely, but ideally, he will find himself in a setup role. Whether it is Edwin Díaz or someone else, another arm with closing experience should be brought in.
For now, this gets a solid B+, with the ability to be pushed towards an A- or an A.
