The Boston Red Sox are busy trying to convince outfielder Juan Soto to call Fenway Park home for the next decade-plus.
However, there’s also a significant hole in manager Alex Cora’s bullpen now that Kenley Jansen is a free agent. Could they swing a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers for closer Devin Williams?
Although the right-handed hurler was limited to 21 2/3 innings in 2024, he put together his typically dominant numbers. Williams owned a 1.25 ERA with a 0.97 WHIP and 38 strikeouts in limited action. He’s been among baseball’s most dominant relievers since his 2020 National League Rookie of the Year campaign, as well.
Williams has been selected to two All-Star Games and has won Reliever of the Year twice while posting a 1.70 ERA over his last 222 innings. Despite that, the reliever is on the trade block this winter.
The Brewers declined Williams’ $10.5 million club option because he’s projected to earn slightly less via arbitration ($7.7 million, according to MLB Trade Rumors). The 2025 campaign will be the righty’s final year before hitting free agency. Spotrac projects his current market value for a long-term deal at five years and $70 million.
Even if the Red Sox don’t want to sign Williams to a multi-year deal, could they try and acquire him simply for next season? Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller mentioned Boston among a list of teams with a question mark at closer who would be interested in at least temporarily filling that void with Williams. It will be a winter full of rumors regarding Williams’ immediate future.
He seems destined to pitch elsewhere in 2025, and he’d fit in with many teams. The Red Sox are certainly one of them, but it’ll depend on how much of a priority this kind of acquisition is for president of baseball operations Craig Breslow.
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