He didn’t want to be here at first — now this Yankees reliever might stay originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Of all the surprises to come out of this Yankees season, this might top the list: Devin Williams told NJ.com’s Bob Klapisch he’d be open to signing with the Yankees long-term.
“They’re the ones who would have to offer me a contract, but I’m open to anything,” Williams said. “I’d be cool with that.”
Cool with that? Just a few months ago, the guy looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here.
When the Yankees traded for him this past offseason, there was some thought about a potential fit long term, but that went away quickly. Williams told reporters in his initial press conference he thought he’d end up in Los Angeles. And early on, he looked overwhelmed, not by the hitters, but by the market. The lights, the cameras, the media crowd that comes with wearing pinstripes.
People around the team said he wasn’t comfortable in New York. Not just on the mound. He made a big deal about having to shave his beard. He struggled to settle in. And after he lost the closer’s job in April, it looked like the Yankees might be trying to unload him again before the deadline.
It’s been a strange ride for Devin Williams this season. He opened the year as the closer, lost the job by the end of April, and at times looked like a Joey Gallo-like candidate just waiting to be moved. But since mid-May, he’s found some footing. Over his last 15 appearances, he’s posted a 1.88 ERA with eight saves and a WHIP under 0.60.
Let’s be honest here. Baseball agents and smart clients know having the Yankees in the bidding for a free agent is financially beneficial for the player. If Williams had said he had no interest in staying, he would have been shooting himself in the foot for free agency.
Still, the splits tell you where he’s most comfortable: Yankee Stadium. At home, Williams has pitched to a 3.86 ERA with 29 strikeouts in just under 19 innings. On the road, that ERA jumps north of 6.00. He’s sharper in the Bronx, more aggressive, more in control. The numbers back it up. And now, for the first time all season, he sounds like a guy who might want to stay.
It’s still a tricky fit. Williams will have to learn to live in the spotlight if he is going to stick around.
What’s clear is that something’s shifted. Williams has found a rhythm. And oddly enough, he’s found a little comfort in the one city where comfort is usually the last thing closers get.
If you’d asked two months ago, “Would he want to be here forever?” — many would have said no. But after watching him turn the page? Williams’ words echo louder than ever: “I’d be cool with that.”
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.