The New York Mets have agreed to a three-year, $51 million contract with free-agent reliever Devin Williams, according to multiple reports. The signing reunites Williams with Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns and aims to bolster the team's bullpen. Despite the addition, the Mets remain interested in re-signing closer Edwin Díaz.
The New York Mets strengthened their bullpen by agreeing to terms with former New York Yankees closer Devin Williams on a three-year deal worth $45 million in salary plus a $6 million signing bonus and deferrals, bringing the total guarantee to $51 million. The agreement, reported Monday and not yet official, comes after Williams spent the 2025 season with the Yankees, where he posted a 4.79 ERA over 62-67 appearances and 62 innings, striking out 90 batters. His performance included a challenging start with an 11.25 ERA in his first 10 games but improved to a 3.83 ERA in his remaining outings, ending with 13 consecutive scoreless appearances, including four postseason frames.
Williams, a two-time All-Star turning 31, brings a career 1.83 ERA from six seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, highlighted by his signature 'airbender' changeup that generated a 37.3% whiff rate in 2025 despite opponents hitting .194 against it. Advanced metrics suggest bad luck contributed to his inflated ERA, with an expected ERA of 3.04, FIP of 2.68, and a 34.7% strikeout rate in the 97th percentile. He did not receive a qualifying offer from the Yankees, avoiding draft pick compensation for either team.
The move does not close the door on re-signing Edwin Díaz, who posted a 1.63 ERA with 28 saves in 2025 before opting out of the final two years of his contract worth $38 million and rejecting the Mets' $22.05 million qualifying offer. Díaz, seeking a multi-year deal, called the chances of returning '50-50.' 'I like the team. I like the organization,' Díaz said at the MLB Awards. 'They came with the best deal for me [three years ago], and I really enjoyed staying with them. But at the end of the day, I don’t know what they are thinking.' Williams is open to setting up for Díaz, as he did for others in past roles.
Mets president David Stearns emphasized financial flexibility to improve the bullpen, which ranked 15th in ERA at 3.93 in 2025 despite Díaz's strong showing. Returning left-handers A.J. Minter and Brooks Raley provide depth, with Minter recovering from lat surgery, while Huascar Brazobán is another internal option. The Mets previously acquired Ryan Helsley at the 2025 Trade Deadline, but he struggled with a 7.20 ERA due to pitch-tipping issues.
