Mon Apr 28 00:20:00 UTC 2025: **Yankees Demote Struggling Closer Devin Williams**
NEW YORK (April 27, 2025) – New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced today that Devin Williams is being removed from the closer role. Williams, acquired in a blockbuster offseason trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, has struggled mightily in his first month as a Yankee, posting an 11.25 ERA over eight innings. His struggles culminated in a blown save Friday against the Toronto Blue Jays, where he failed to retire any of the three batters he faced.
Boone cited a need for Williams to regain his confidence in lower-leverage situations. He emphasized that Williams’ recent performance doesn’t erase his six seasons of dominance with Milwaukee, where he was a highly effective closer. However, this season, Williams’ signature changeup has been ineffective, resulting in a significant drop in strikeouts and an increase in hard contact.
Luke Weaver will likely take over closing duties for the Yankees while Williams works to rediscover his form. The move marks a disappointing turn for a trade that sent Nestor Cortes (currently on the 60-day IL) and Caleb Durbin to Milwaukee. While Durbin has shown promise since his recent Major League debut, the trade has so far failed to yield the anticipated reinforcement of the Yankees’ bullpen. The team’s relief corps, with the exception of Williams, has otherwise performed well. The reasons for Williams’ struggles remain unclear, with speculation ranging from the increased pressure of playing in New York to lingering effects of a previous back injury.
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