Introduction
Devin Williams — once one of baseball’s premier closers — enters a new chapter in his career. Having struggled through a turbulent 2025 season with the New York Yankees, Williams has now secured a major contract with the New York Mets. The deal represents both a fresh start and a significant vote of confidence from a franchise intent on revamping its bullpen.
New Contract: Mets Bet Big
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In December 2025, the Mets finalized a three-year contract worth US$ 51 million with Williams.
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The deal includes an upfront signing bonus and a structured payment arrangement: part of the salary is deferred over 10 years, with full payout extending to 2045.
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The move suggests the Mets view Williams as a cornerstone for their late-innings — either as a replacement for or complement to current/former closer Edwin Díaz, whose future with the club remains uncertain.
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At 31, Williams now faces what many hope will be a career revival in Queens.
2025 Season: ERA Trouble, But Underlying Promise
Surface Stats
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In 2025 with the Yankees: 4.79 ERA across 67 appearances — a career-worst.
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He converted 18 saves in 22 opportunities.
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Strikeouts were 90, with a WHIP of 1.13.
Underlying Metrics & Context
While the 4.79 ERA is eye-catching, deeper analytics paint a more nuanced picture:
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His FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) in 2025 was 2.68, more than two runs below his ERA.
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His expected ERA (xERA) was about 3.04.
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His signature “Airbender” changeup remained effective, generating notable whiff rates and limiting opponent batting average against.
These metrics, along with a strong strikeout rate and lowered walk rate compared to some prior seasons, suggest that 2025’s struggles may owe more to bad luck and timing than a wholesale decline.
Performance Trend Within 2025
Williams’ season was far from uniform:
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He began poorly — elevated ERA in his first handful of outings.
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But as the year progressed, he stabilized. His final 57 games showed marked improvement compared to early season struggles.
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Importantly, he ended the season on a strong note: including several scoreless postseason appearances.
What the Mets Are Getting — Why This Contract Makes Sense
The signing of Williams makes sense for the Mets for several reasons:
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Bullpen Stability: New York needed a reliable late-inning arm after a bullpen-shaky 2025. Williams — with a track record and strong underlying stuff — fills that gap.
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Upside Despite 2025 Dip: His FIP, xERA, strikeout and whiff rates — even in a “bad” season — remain impressive. That signals potential bounce-back.
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Cost vs Risk: A three-year $51M deal is a significant commitment, but the deferred structure and lack of opt-outs indicate Mets believe his 2025 was an aberration, not a trend.
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Flexibility: Depending on the status of Edwin Díaz, Williams could close games or serve as a high-leverage setup man — giving the Mets bullpen versatility.
2025 Season In Retrospect: Talent, Trouble, and Trust
The 2025 campaign was rough on paper: a high ERA, lost closer role, and inconsistent outings. But when you look beneath the surface, Williams still showed many hallmarks of the dominant reliever he once was.
He’s had elite swing-and-miss stuff, kept walk rates in check, and delivered strong strikeout numbers. The narrative many analysts — and the Mets front office — seem to buy is that the poor ERA was due more to circumstances (bad luck, perhaps weak defence behind him, timing) than a lost skill set.
Now in Queens, Williams gets a chance at redemption — and the Mets are betting big that this is just the start of his next act.
What to Watch in 2026
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Health & Consistency: Can Williams avoid the rough patches and return to stretch of scoreless outings like he had late 2025? A full season of consistency will be key.
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Role Definition: Whether he closes, shares ninth-inning duties, or serves as a bridge to another closer will affect not just his usage, but his value.
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Advanced Metrics: If FIP, xERA, whiff rates and strikeout-to-walk ratios remain strong — even if ERA fluctuates — it’ll reinforce that the Mets’ gamble was justified.
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Bullpen Dynamics: With the Mets still evaluating other relievers and the future of Edwin Díaz uncertain, how Williams fits into the relief corps will matter for New York’s postseason hopes.
Conclusion
Devin Williams — once dominant, then faltering — now embarks on a new chapter with the New York Mets. The three-year, $51 million deal reflects both the Mets’ faith in his upside and the club’s desire to solidify a shaky bullpen.
Yes — 2025 was rough. But given his underlying numbers, his signature changeup, and flashes of late-season brilliance, many believe 2026 could be redemption. For Williams, it’s more than a new uniform — it’s a second chance.
