Closer extraordinaire Devin Williams had been told by the Milwaukee Brewers that he would likely be traded to the Dodgers. Instead, he went to the New York Yankees, a turn of events Williams described as “the Yankees snuck under the table and got the deal done.”
It’s no secret that strengthening the bullpen remains on the Dodgers’ to-do list. They have been linked to free agent Tanner Scott, who recorded 22 saves last season with the San Diego Padres and Miami Marlins. They’ve been courted by free-agent closers Paul Sewald and Kenley Jansen (shouldn’t it be the teams courting the players?).
But Williams, when healthy, is in a different stratosphere, one in which his changeup enjoys a lofty nickname: the Airbender. The pitch falls apart and away to a left-handed hitter, while drilling into the hands of a right-hander.
Result? Williams managed just 129 hits while striking out 375 in 236 career innings. His career earned run average is 1.83. He is elitist.
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Spin speed is the current benchmark for a monster throw, and the Airbender spins more than any change: 2,752 revolutions per minute. The average change runs at 1,769 RPM.
Apparently, Williams gave no spin on his trade with the Yankees during interviews Tuesday. He made it clear he was surprised that pinstripes are in his future and not Dodger blue.
He responded to a question from SNY asking if a trade to the Yankees was “on your radar” by replying, “To be honest, I didn’t really think that. I actually thought I was going to LA. That was Me, too.” is told.”
The right-hander could become a free agent after the 2025 season, which explains the modest return to Milwaukee: minor leaguer Caleb Durbin – who could compete for the starting job at second base – and left-handed starter Nestor Cortes – best known in LA for throwing up the walk-off grand slam to Freddie Freeman in Game 1 of the World Series.
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While the Dodgers were indeed interested in Williams, as people with knowledge of the situation who were not authorized to speak publicly confirmed, no deal with Los Angeles was believed to be imminent.
As the Cortes acquisition showed, the Brewers were primarily targeting starting pitching in exchange for Williams, something the Dodgers are unwilling to forego this season even after signing Blake Snell to a $182 million contract last month.
Instead, the club has now turned its attention elsewhere in search of bullpen options.
All a fan has to do is watch Scott Braun’s “Foul Territory” podcast to know that the Dodgers remain a favorite destination, at least for free-agent closers. Sewald, who has 81 saves over the past four years with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners, made that clear during an interview, but he is 34 with a career ERA of 4.09. Jansen, the Dodgers’ all-time leader in saves, told the show he wants to retire in L.A.
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Still, it’s more likely that the Dodgers will first go after Scott, a left-hander who has 55 saves over the past three seasons. The Dodgers are bringing back high-leverage relievers Michael Kopech, Alex Vesia, Evan Phillips and Ryan Brasier while re-signing Blake Treinen, so it’s not like the bullpen is bare. But it’s clear they believe it would be wise to add another arm with ninth-inning experience.
It just won’t be Williams. Perhaps Cortes had the last laugh.
Times staff writer Jack Harris contributed to this report.
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
