Devin Williams has been on the Yankees’ radar for years, recalled general manager Brian Cashman, who said that each prior attempt to pry the right-handed closer from the Brewers met a dead end. The Bombers finally got their man on Friday.

In a move that projects to significantly upgrade their bullpen for the 2025 season, the Yankees acquired the two-time All-Star Williams from Milwaukee in exchange for left-hander Nestor Cortes, infielder Caleb Durbin and cash considerations.

TRADE DETAILS
Yankees get: RHP Devin Williams
Brewers get: LHP Nestor Cortes, INF Caleb Durbin, cash considerations

The 30-year-old Williams is a two-time National League Reliever of the Year (2021, ’23) who was also the 2020 NL Rookie of the Year.

“Big fastball and a devastating changeup; that’s his calling card,” Cashman said. “Soft contact, swing-and-miss, ground balls – and the consistency he’s been able to provide for quite some time now. I’m sure we weren’t the only bidders here in the end. He certainly doesn’t seem to be afraid; you can’t do that job if you’re afraid of the big stage.”

This past season, Williams posted a razor-thin 1.25 ERA across 22 appearances in the regular season for Milwaukee, logging 14 saves and finishing 19 games. His season was impacted by a pair of stress fractures in his back, which delayed Williams’ first appearance until July 28.

Williams endured a high-profile stumble in Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Mets, when he blew a 2-0 lead by surrendering four runs in the top of the ninth inning. The Brewers declined Williams’ $10.5 million option for the ’25 season in November; he is entering his final season of arbitration eligibility after earning $7 million in ’24. Cashman said there have been no conversations about a potential extension.

• Analyzing the Williams trade from all sides

Williams’ acquisition will move Luke Weaver back to a setup role within a Yankees bullpen that has seen displaced closer Clay Holmes move across town to the Mets, with Tim Hill and Tommy Kahnle also free agents. The Yanks have re-signed Jonathan Loáisiga, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery and should be ready to join New York at some point this coming season.

“This is a high-quality arm to fit in with the ’pen,” Cashman said. “It’s not easy to find guys running around of the stature of Devin Williams.”

Like Williams, Cortes also concluded his tenure with his previous team by landing on the wrong side of a memorable postseason rally. Summoned in relief during Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers, Cortes served up a walk-off grand slam to Freddie Freeman, the first in Fall Classic history.

Otherwise, Cortes -- who dealt with a left elbow flexor strain that had kept him out of action since Sept. 18 before the World Series appearance -- was a reliable workhorse for the Yanks in 2024, pitching to a 9-10 record and 3.77 ERA in a team-leading 174 1/3 innings.

A 2022 American League All-Star, Cortes has spent five of his seven big league seasons with the Yankees, also pitching briefly for the Orioles and Mariners. In 135 Major League games (86 starts), Cortes has compiled a 33-21 record and 3.80 ERA. Cashman thanked Cortes for his contributions, saying the Yanks “had to give to get.”

Having earned $3.95 million this past year as he heads into his final season of arbitration eligibility, Cortes became expendable for the Yankees following their addition of Max Fried, who agreed Tuesday to an eight-year, $218 million contract, which represents the largest deal ever issued to a left-handed pitcher.

The Yanks’ rotation now projects to include Gerrit Cole, Fried, Carlos Rodón, Luis Gil, Clarke Schmidt and Marcus Stroman; the Astros reportedly sought Gil, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, in trade talks for outfielder Kyle Tucker, who was instead traded Friday to the Cubs.

“At the end of the day, I’m glad that Mr. Tucker is not in the American League,” Cashman said. “It’s a big get for the Chicago Cubs. We had many conversations with Houston, as well as any other team that’s got quality talent in the marketplace to talk about.”

Durbin, 24, had been mentioned by the Yankees as a leading candidate to play second base this coming season, with Gleyber Torres’ expected departure in free agency. The speedy Durbin earned a place on New York’s 40-man roster with an impressive showing in the Arizona Fall League.

Durbin spent most of this past season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he batted .287/.396/.471 with 23 doubles, 10 homers and 60 RBIs. He boosted his stock in the Arizona Fall League, where he batted .312/.427/.548 with five homers in 24 games with 29 stolen bases, shattering the previous record of 24, set by Rick Holifield in 1994, when the AFL’s schedule was almost twice as long.

Though manager Aaron Boone has said that he would be “more than comfortable” beginning the season with Jazz Chisholm Jr. at third base, the Yankees have expressed interest in several external third base options, including free agent Alex Bregman.

“He’s been a thorn in our sides for years, along with a lot of other peoples’ sides,” Cashman said of Bregman. “He’s now into free agency and I’m sure he’s got a whole boatload of choices. Really good players like him make a lot of money. … I certainly respect the player and his ability, and how much winning he’s been a part of. That’s about as far as I will say at this point.”

With Durbin’s departure, New York’s internal second base choices include Oswaldo Cabrera, DJ LeMahieu, and Oswald Peraza.

“The job is not done yet,” Cashman said. “We have more to do.”