The clock is ticking, and patience is wearing thinner than a rookie’s batting average. The front office isn’t in the mood for charity work, especially when the payroll has a comma in it. With the trade deadline creeping closer, one high-priced bullpen experiment is testing the limits of even the most forgiving executives. And when it comes to the New York Yankees, mercy is rarely in the game plan.
Whenever a player is not performing well, the news of his trade starts to pop up. With the recent performances Devin Williams has put up, there was no doubt the rumors would start swirling. Through his first 14 appearances this season, Williams has stumbled to a 5.62 ERA. Simply put, he’s not as sharp as he once was. Plus, he’s already blown 3 saves in 12 opportunities, and his fastball velocity has dipped by about 1.5 mph compared to last year. But, according to MLB insider Jon Heyman, the situation might not be as dire as it seems.
In the latest tweet that Heyman put out, he addressed the problem, saying, “You’d probably be able to give him away. Just not have somebody take the contract, but you’re not going to get anything back for him. I get all sorts of people reaching out and saying, get rid of him, trade him,” John mentioned. “Teams don’t like to do that when you’ve got a guy this talented. Just give him away to somebody else. So I don’t see it happening,” he said, making his stance clear.
We discuss here if Devin Williams’ issue might be the locale of his new residence more than the locale of his pitches. Plus, Mike Elias joins us for in-depth interview on The Show
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— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) May 7, 2025
What makes Jon Heyman say that a trade might not be happening? Well, it’s the impressive history that Williams brings with him. Before this season, he wasn’t just good—he was elite. A two-time All-Star, 2020 NL Rookie of the Year, and the owner of a career 1.84 ERA heading into 2024, Williams had cemented himself as one of baseball’s most dominant relievers. At 29, he’s not washed up; he’s simply out of sync.
After being traded during the 2024-25 offseason, the ‘Airbender’ Devin Williams had a reputation to live up to. After years of success as the closer for the Milwaukee Brewers, a whopping $8.6 million seemed justifiable. On paper, a former All-Star with elite stuff seemed like an enticing gamble. But lately, even that gamble looks shaky.
Williams’ fall from dominance isn’t just bad luck—it’s mechanical, mental, and maybe medical. His walk rate has ballooned to 6.1 per nine innings, and his WHIP sits above 1.60. Command issues and a suspiciously silent back injury have unraveled outings. Confidence, once elite, now crumbles under the Bronx spotlight.
And that’s the hook—the Yankees didn’t buy a fixer-upper; they bought a Ferrari with a flat tire. Trading Devin Williams now would be like returning a Rolex because it stopped ticking once. New York doesn’t panic—it recalibrates. The mound may be messy, but the man still throws gold.
Yankees manager continues to back Williams amid slump
Each outing with Williams is beginning to feel like déjà vu dipped in drama, with high stakes and low returns. As the crowd groans louder, the skipper remains unmoved, defending a closer who’s closing more doors than games. Once hailed as a lockdown closer, Williams has now blown five leads, including a brutal collapse on May 5. Entering with a 3-0 lead, he left with the bases loaded and the game slipping away. His third straight loss sealed a 4-3 defeat to the Padres, igniting frustration across Yankee Nation.
Yet, Aaron Boone refuses to abandon his embattled pitcher. “He still has everything to be great. He’s a guy who’s in the prime of his career, and he’s just going through a tough time.” Boone was quick to say, shielding Williams from rising criticism. The manager called it a rough patch, not a downfall. “I still maintain that this is not a pitcher we’re trying to reinvent or a guy who’s past his prime. I feel like it’s very close. It’s about controlling counts a little better, and once he does that, he’ll ascend quickly.”
On the other side, Former Yankee Adam Ottavino didn’t hold back. Pointing out two things, he said, “Number one, he’s getting unlucky. His batting average on balls in play is too high. It’s unsustainable. And number two, it’s the worst he’s ever pitched in his career.” So, the debate is still on!
Finally, as the Yankees bet on history, a trade cannot be counted completely off the cards. But if Williams can’t turn the corner soon, even loyalty has its limits in the Bronx.
The post Yankees Could Trade Struggling $8.6M Star? MLB Insider Reveals Front Office’s Stance Ahead of Deadline appeared first on EssentiallySports.
