Ex-Yankees Prospect Making Team Regret Trading Him For Failed Reliever
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The New York Yankees traded for Devin Williams this offseason, and the move has turned out worse than anyone could have imagined.
Williams was a two-time All-Star with the Milwaukee Brewers. He is also a two-time Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year Award winner. However, with the Yankees, he has a 5.32 ERA and has been removed from the closer's role.
Not only is he no longer the closer, but he is not even being trusted in leverage situations. He will be a free agent after the year, and likely will be playing elsewhere. However, to make matters worse, one of the players traded away is a key player on the best team in baseball right now.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 6: Caleb Durbin #21 of the Milwaukee Brewers smiles during batting practice before the game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on August 6, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 6: Caleb Durbin #21 of the Milwaukee Brewers smiles during batting practice before the game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on August 6, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.The Yankees gave up Caleb Durbin and Nestor Cortes to get Williams. The Brewers flipped Cortes at the trade deadline, but Durbin has become a starter. He has started 86 of the 97 games he has played in after being called up.
Durbin is slashing .255/.334/.377 while playing solid defense at third base. Meanwhile, third base for the Yankees has been a real problem. The team traded for Ryan McMahon, but he has not been great.
Jazz Chisholm Jr., Oswaldo Cabrera, Oswald Peraza, Jorbit Vivas, Pablo Reyes, José Caballero and J.C. Escarra have also tried to fill the void at third base. Durbin would have been an upgrade for the Yankees.
Instead, the Yankees are watching Williams play his way out of the Bronx. Durbin has been solid all season, but recently his offense has surged. In his last 44 games, he has slashed .302/.365/.446 with four home runs and 17 RBIs.
The Brewers have the best record in the big leagues, and Durbin is a huge reason why. He has multiple years of club control and could have been a star for the Yankees. He is in the 98th percentile for strikeout percentage and 94th percentile for whiff percentage, per Baseball Savant. He is tough to strike out and can also impact the game with his speed.
Right now, it clearly looks like the Brewers won the trade where they gave up an All-Star closer.
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