Top Landing Spots for Free Agent Devin Williams

New York Mets

Based on how his 2025 season went, it just doesn’t feel like a return to the Yankees is in the cards. But that doesn’t mean that Williams couldn’t still end up staying in the city.

Since 2019, the Mets have had one of the most electric closers in the league in Edwin Diaz. Even with an entire 2023 season lost due to injury, his 144 saves since joining New York are fifth most in MLB over that span.

But, that was then. On Tuesday, it was announced that Diaz would be opting out of the final two years of his contract, leaving $38 million on the table to test out free agency. All of a sudden, the Mets have an opening for their closer role.

In the aftermath of Diaz’s decision, there aren’t clear internal options to hop into his role. They did acquire another former closer in Ryan Helsley at 2025’s trade deadline, but he is a free agent as well.

The Mets haven’t been afraid to spend money to improve their roster the last couple years as they were top five in payroll in each season. Williams could actually represent a cost savings if New York doesn’t end up finding a way to bring Diaz back into the fold.

Los Angeles Angels

Next up on the list of teams with an opening at closer due to free agency are the Angels. Even without that opening, the team has plenty of reasons to add some firepower to its bullpen.

Angels relievers had a rough go of it in 2025. The group combined for a 4.86 ERA last season, fourth worst among MLB bullpens last season and dead last in the AL. The 93 homers they served up were second most of any MLB bullpen.

One of the lone bright spots in that bullpen, was their closer, Kenley Jansen. The now 16-year MLB veteran signed a one-year, $10 million contract last offseason and proved to be worth every penny.

The ageless wonder miraculously turned in one of his best seasons in recent memory, pitching to a 2.79 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 59 innings. His 29 saves brought him to 476 for his career, keeping him solidly in fourth on the all-time career MLB saves list.

With new manager Kurt Suzuki at the helm for 2026, the Angels may look to bolster certain positions in an effort to hopefully move toward a new era of contention. That could mean looking at Williams over a short reunion with a 38-year-old Jansen.

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks are the one team on this list that already has a player assigned to the closer role. The problem is that they won’t have access to him for a while.

Justin Martinez and his 100 mph fastball came into the 2025 season looking to serve as one of the most electric closers in all of baseball. That’s how things started before a UCL sprain ended his season in June. He’ll miss a large portion of 2026 as well.

Replacing his production had mixed results. Shelby Miller filled in very well, tallying 10 saves for Arizona. He would get injured himself, though, before eventually being traded to the Brewers at the deadline.

In attempting to replace Martinez, the Diamondbacks would have a whopping 17 pitchers would earn at least one save on the season. That set a new MLB single-season team record.

While Williams would be a great closer fill-in until Martinez returns, Arizona could use him regardless. Their bullpen had the fourth worst ERA in MLB at 4.42 and the third worst fWAR at -0.3.

Atlanta Braves

Back to teams with a new closer vacancy. The Braves have had one of the more stable closing situations in the league over the last three years before having to now deal with their current opening.

After re-signing closer Raisel Iglesias to a four-year contract prior to the 2022 season, the Angels promptly sent him to Atlanta later that year at the trade deadline. It was one of the better trades in recent Braves history.

In his Braves career, Iglesias has accumulated a 2.35 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 97 saves over the course of 222 games. Those 97 saves are tied for fifth most in MLB since the day he was acquired by Atlanta.

Iglesias aside, the Braves bullpen wasn’t as bad as some of the other teams on this list but they still weren’t great. Atlanta relievers were 19th in MLB with a combined 4.19 ERA and were also middle of the road in FIP (4.26, 21st), walk rate (9.1%, 14th), and hard hit rate (39.4%, 14th).

The Braves could look to bring Iglesias back, but he does hit his age 36 season next year. Instead, perhaps they start another multi-year run with a new closer like Williams.

St. Louis Cardinals

Williams began his career feasting on NL Central hitting, putting up a 2.04 ERA, .165 batting average against, and 38.2% strikeout rate against divisional opponents before being traded to the AL. So why not return to that comfortable environment if given the chance?

One team from that division who could be looking for a new closer for the 2026 season are the Cardinals. Of course, they’re the ones who put themselves in that position at this year’s trade deadline.

Largely out of contention and looking to trade an expiring contract for some future assets, St. Louis offloaded closer Ryan Helsley to the Mets. The 30-year-old had been the team’s closer for the last few years, compiling 105 saves while with the Cards and leading all of MLB with 49 back in 2024.

The Cardinals had a steady bullpen this year even without Helsley and have potential internal options to be closer in 2026. In particular, JoJo Romero had a 2.08 ERA and eight saves in 2025 and is entering his age 29 season.

He also only has 12 total saves for his career. A more experienced closer may be what St. Louis ends up looking for and Williams would fit that profile. They’d have to start spending again, but if the Cards want to return to NL Central relevancy, they’ll need to consider it.