Mets begin rebuild of bullpen by signing Devin Williams

The New York Mets needed to rebuild their bullpen this offseason. That process began Monday night.

Will Sammon of The Athletic reported that the Mets have signed reliever Devin Williams to a three-year deal. MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported that Williams will receive $45M with $5M deferred and a $6M signing bonus prorated over the life of the contract. 

There is a degree of familiarity with Williams and the Mets despite not being part of the organization previously. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns held the same role with the Milwaukee Brewers through 2022, overlapping with Williams' first three full seasons in the majors. 

New York Mets hoping for Devin Williams rebound

Williams had established himself as one of the better relievers in baseball during his time in Milwaukee. He posted a 1.83 ERA and a 1.023 WHiP over his 235.2 innings with the Brewers, recording 68 saves while striking out 375 batters with 112 walks. Williams was sent to the New York Yankees during the 2024-25 offseason as New York looked to solidify the ninth inning.

That deal did not go according to plan. Williams struggled from the beginning, eventually losing the closer role twice. He had the worst season of his career in 2025, posting a 4.79 ERA and a 1.129 WHiP over his 62 innings, striking out 90 batters with 25 walks. 

There are reasons to hope for a rebound. Williams posted a 2.68 FIP (ERA based on factors a pitcher can control and league average defense) and his Statcast page is still awash in red. Opponents posted a .607 OPS against Williams in 2025, his worst showing over a full major league season. 

Williams' role with the Mets is not set in stone. Anthony DiComo from MLB.com reported that the Mets are still attempting to re-sign closer Edwin Diaz. Williams is reportedly willing to return to a setup role for the Mets if Diaz returns.

The Mets still have plenty of work to do to revamp the roster and the pitching staff. Adding Williams is a good start, but that cannot be the only significant addition to the relief corps if the Mets are going to contend in 2026.