Brewers trade All-Star closer Williams to Yankees for Cortes, prospect
The Milwaukee Brewers traded two-time All-Star closer Devin Williams to the New York Yankees for left-handed starter Nestor Cortes, second base prospect Caleb Durbin, and cash considerations, the teams announced Friday.
The Yankees are also sending $2 million to Milwaukee in the deal, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Williams, a two-time winner of the NL Reliever of the Year Award, recorded a 1.25 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 22 appearances last season. He owns a 1.83 ERA (232 ERA+) and 14.3 K/9 across six MLB seasons.
The 30-year-old has been frequently involved in trade talks since the Brewers declined to exercise their $10.5-million club option for 2025. However, Williams remained under club control for one more season after the Brewers tendered him a contract. He's projected to earn $7.7 million next season in his final year of arbitration, per MLB Trade Rumors.
Although Williams will reach free agency next winter, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said the club has yet to have any conversations "internally or externally" about a possible extension, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
The Yankees' previous closer, Clay Holmes, joined the crosstown New York Mets in free agency earlier this offseason.
Cortes, meanwhile, has been a mainstay in the Yankees' rotation over the last few years. The shifty left-hander broke out with an All-Star campaign in 2022 and posted a 3.77 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over 174 1/3 innings last season.
New York had a surplus of starting pitching to deal from after signing Max Fried to an eight-year, $218-million deal earlier this week.
Cortes, like Williams, is projected to earn $7.7 million in 2025 and will become a free agent after next season.
Durbin, 24, slashed .287/.396/.471 with 10 home runs and 60 RBIs in 82 games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2024.