Williams thrilled Yankees 'snuck in' to land him

Devin Williams knew he was getting traded. He was conscionable caught by astonishment connected the destination.

Williams, 30, spent Tuesday being introduced arsenic the newest personnel of the New York Yankees, ending a whirlwind group of rumors that had him perchance landing connected the different coast.

"I benignant of thought I'd beryllium going to L.A.," Williams, 30, said. "That was what I was being told and the Yankees snuck successful location nether the array and sewage the woody done."

The All-Star person is an impending free supplier and understood he'd apt beryllium excessively costly to enactment successful Milwaukee. He saw plentifulness of rumors, but it wasn't until his supplier called that he knew he was dealt for left-hander Nestor Cortes, imaginable Caleb Durbin and cash.

So, alternatively of joining the World Series-champion Dodgers, Williams landed connected the squad the Dodgers defeated for the title. He will bolster a Yankees bullpen that has truthful acold mislaid Clay Holmes to free agency and could person 2 much cardinal pieces -- Tommy Kahnle and Tim Hill -- motion elsewhere this winter.

While Yankees head Brian Cashman past week said Williams' domiciled will beryllium up to head Aaron Boone, the right-hander pinch a devastating changeup known arsenic "The Airbender" figures to descent into the person slot that Luke Weaver, a breakout prima successful 2024, filled successful September and done the postseason.

"I'm excited for it, man," Williams said. "They evidently person a agelong history pinch Mariano, Aroldis. Those guys, they've been the champion of the best. And I'm conscionable trying to adhd my sanction to that list, hopefully. But I deliberation it'll beryllium bully for me. I'm personification who, I thrive disconnected the energy. I tin provender disconnected the fans."

Williams became the Brewers' person successful July 2022 aft the nine traded All-Star person Josh Hader. He vanished the twelvemonth -- his first arsenic an All-Star -- pinch a 1.93 ERA and 15 saves. In 2023, his first afloat play arsenic a closer, Williams was an All-Star again and recorded a 1.53 ERA pinch 36 saves crossed 61 appearances. He past missed the first 4 months of the 2024 play pinch a accent fracture successful his backmost earlier returning successful precocious July, pitching a 1.25 ERA pinch 14 saves and a 43.2% strikeout complaint successful 22 games.

His play -- and Brewers tenure -- concluded successful disappointment erstwhile he surrendered 4 runs successful the ninth inning successful the decisive Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series against the New York Mets, including a go-ahead three-run location tally to Pete Alonso connected his vaunted changeup.

Williams said he takes a picnic overseas aft astir seasons. After the Brewers' early playoff exit successful October, however, he decided to enactment successful the United States, and coincidentally spent 10 days successful New York City. He visited The Museum of Modern Art and the American Museum of Natural History. He enjoyed the edifice scene. Ten days, he realized, wasn't capable to complete his tourer checklist.

He'll now person much clip to research the city. The mobility is whether his clip successful New York will agelong beyond 2025. Williams, a free supplier adjacent offseason, said he is an action to a statement extension.

"I deliberation if it's correct for some sides, that's decidedly ever an option," Williams said. "Nothing has been discussed up until now truthful I can't really remark excessively overmuch connected that."