The Milwaukee Brewers declined the $10.5 million club option to buy closer Devin Williams, instead paying him $250,000 buyout and entering arbitration in his final year before hitting the open market in free agency.
Williams, 30, is in his final year of arbitration and is expected to earn about $8 million. ESPN reporter Jeff Passan expects between $8 million and $9 million, while MLB trade rumors project $7.7 million.
In six seasons with the Brewers, Williams pitched in 241 games, spanning 235 1/2 innings with a 1.83 ERA, 2.39 FIP, and 375 strikeouts. He won the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2020, is a two-time All-Star, and was named the NL Reliever of the Year in 2020 and 2023.
He missed the first half of 2024 with stress fractures in his back, and ultimately appeared in 22 games with 38 strikeouts across 21 1/2 innings pitched, pitching to a 1.25 ERA with 14 saves. He pitched 1 ⁄ 3 innings across two appearances in the NL Wild Card Series in Milwaukee with the Mets, allowing four runs — including a devastating three-run homer off Pete Alonso — in the series final loss.
Williams has been named as a trade candidate this offseason as Milwaukee is unlikely to sign him after his contract expires next year.
