The Milwaukee Brewers need to rethink their decision to have Devin Williams pitch for them in 2025. Milwaukee is unlikely to offer him an extension and has Trevor Megill waiting in the wings making Williams expendable. The two-time all-star has one controllable year remaining on his contract before he is eligible for free agency after next season. Earlier in the offseason, the team declined his $10.5 million team option which makes it easier to trade him. Given he was already hurt this past season, all Milwaukee is doing is hurting his value by continuing to have him on the roster. The franchise would be foolish to have Devin Williams heading into the spring.
A Good Year Despite Being Hurt For Most Of It
Embed from Getty ImagesDespite missing most of the regular season with a back injury, Devin Williams still managed to make the most of 2024. Upon returning, Devin Williams didn’t miss a beat and looked as if he never got hurt. The 30-year-old appeared in 22 games and went 1-0 with an ERA of 1.25, 14 saves, and 38 strikeouts to just 11 walks. The two-time all-star was a 1.4 WAR player despite being out for most of the season.
He Is Much Easier To Trade Now
Embed from Getty ImagesEarlier in the offseason, the team declined Williams’s $10.5 million team option. Milwaukee will instead pay him $250,000 in the buyout and anything they owe him from arbitration. The 30-year-old is currently projected to make $8 million after arbitration this season. By declining the $10.5 million, this will make it a lot easier to trade away Williams. With Williams already receiving his buyout, the only thing a potential suitor would owe him is whatever he gets in arbitration. This will make him a very attractive trade target this offseason.
Trevor Megill Is Ready
Embed from Getty ImagesWhen Devin Williams was on the injured list, Trevor Megill handled the ninth inning flawlessly for Milwaukee. He finished the 2024 season with a record of 1-3, an ERA of 2.72, 21 saves, and 50 strikeouts to just 14 walks. Opposing hitters also struck out 27.3% of the time when they faced Megill last season. One could make an argument that he could’ve been an all-star last season as well. Milwaukee has had no problem over the years replacing all-star caliber closers. Milwaukee has seamlessly gone from Corey Knebel to Josh Hader to Devin Williams in recent years. Handing off the ninth inning to Trevor Megill full-time should be no different.
Devin Williams Has Put Together A Stellar Resume
Throughout Williams’s career, he’s put together a solid resume. Williams has earned Rookie of the Year honors, has been NL Reliever of the Year twice, and has also been an all-star two times as well. Since becoming the Brewers closer full-time, Williams has gone 15-7 with an ERA of 1.68, 65 saves, 221 strikeouts, and 0.9742 WHIP. He’s also been a 6.3 WAR player as well for the last three years. Given Williams’s stellar resume and the team-friendly deal he’s on, Milwaukee will have no problem finding interested teams. Every team in baseball begs for a closer as accomplished as Devin Williams to be in their bullpen.
The Brewers Shouldn’t Pass Up This Opportunity
Embed from Getty ImagesUnlike what “social media general managers” think, bad postseason moments won’t determine Devin William’s overall value. It probably won’t even be a factor in trade talks. A player’s value is based on many different factors including health, wins above replacement, potential accomplishments, and what he’s done over multiple seasons. In recent years, team control has become a major factor in determining value as well. Given that Williams has an entire year of team control remaining, Milwaukee has an opportunity to get a good return.
For example, the Philadelphia Phillies would be a great place to trade the two-time all-star too. The Phillies need a closer, Milwaukee might have an opening at third base with Joey Ortiz possibly moving to shortstop, and Philadelphia is shopping Alec Bohm. If Milwaukee does this right, they could work out a deal to acquire Bohm in this trade. Milwaukee would get significantly less value in return if they traded him at the deadline versus right now. Unless Milwaukee isn’t contending, it would be a bad idea to trade him during the season next year. The Brewers already have experienced the pitfalls of trading a star midseason in the middle of a playoff race.
Milwaukee Gains More Value If They Trade Him Now
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Brewers would be foolish to head into next season with Devin Williams on the roster. Milwaukee has only one year of control left, they won’t be extending him, he’s already been hurt, and Trevor Megill is ready to be the new closer. All the Brewers are doing is risking losing him in free agency for nothing. The Brewers can gain more value by trading him now than at the trade deadline. The Milwaukee Brewers need to reconsider their decision to have Devin Williams pitching for them in 2025.
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