The New York Yankees traded for Devin Williams last offseason, but they have not seen the results they had hoped for. Williams has had the closer role stripped from him and is having the worst season of his career.
Williams is a two-time All-Star and two-time Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year. However, in 19 games with the Yankees, he has a 7.31 ERA and has already allowed as many earned runs as he did in the past two years combined. He will be a free agent after the season, and if he is not the closer the Yankees thought they were getting, he could be expendable.
FanSided’s Brandon Glick tabbed him as a trade target for the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies just lost their closer, José Alvarado, to an 80-game suspension for the use of performance-enhancing drugs. He is ineligible for the postseason as well.
“Given his status as a rental and his struggles in the Bronx, Williams wouldn’t cost the Phillies much, even as the Yankees try to recuperate some value from the deal that brought him to New York in the first place,” wrote Glick. “If they believe in his underlying numbers (3.17 FIP), Williams could excel in a return to the National League.”
The Yankees gave up Nestor Cortes and Caleb Durbin to acquire Williams. While he has struggled, he is showing some signs of life. He has not allowed a run in five straight outings and has struck out the side twice in that span. When Williams is at his best, he is arguably the best closer in the game.
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However, that does not change the fact that he has not looked like himself for most of this season, and could leave in free agency. If the Yankees are comfortable with their bullpen without Williams, they could try to take advantage of the Phillies’ desperation and trade Williams.
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