The New York Yankees could soon see another key arm walk away. According to multiple reports, including NJ.com and Fish On First, two-time All-Star reliever Devin Williams has drawn serious interest from the Miami Marlins—a surprise suitor looking to solidify the back end of their bullpen.
Williams, 31, enters free agency after a rocky first season in the Bronx. Once considered one of MLB’s most dominant relievers, the right-hander struggled to adapt to New York, finishing the 2025 campaign with a 4.79 ERA over 67 appearances. The Yankees acquired him from Milwaukee last winter to stabilize a bullpen that later added David Bednar at the trade deadline, but Williams eventually lost his closer role after inconsistency and command issues plagued his season.
Despite the disappointing results, Miami believes a rebound could be coming. As Fish on First reported, the Marlins view Williams as a buy-low opportunity—a high-upside veteran who could help solve their late-inning puzzle after using a closer-by-committee approach in 2025.
Marlins See an Opening for a Proven Closer
The Marlins’ bullpen quietly overachieved last season, improving from a 62-win team in 2024 to a 79-win club in 2025. But their 4.28 bullpen ERA ranked just 22nd in MLB, underscoring the need for a proven finisher. Calvin Faucher handled closing duties for much of the year, converting 15 of 18 save opportunities with a 3.28 ERA, but the team still lacked a true shutdown presence.
Williams could fill that void. Even in a down year, he struck out 90 batters and maintained a 34.7% strikeout rate—ranking in the 97th percentile across MLB, according to Statcast. His 2.68 FIP also suggested his underlying performance was far better than his ERA indicated.
Per Fish On First’s Kevin Barral, Williams’ decision will heavily depend on the chance to reclaim a closer’s role—something Miami is ready to offer. “The opportunity to return to a closer’s role will play a factor in which team Williams decides to go to,” Barral wrote. “Even if Williams does not pitch the ninth inning every time, we can assume he would be deployed in the highest-leverage situations possible.”
That incentive could make the Marlins the front-runners. Spotrac currently values Williams at a one-year, $5.7 million deal—a manageable number for a Miami team that spent just $22 million on payroll in 2025, the second lowest in the majors.
Yankees May Need to Move Quickly
For the Yankees, the timing couldn’t be worse. After an early playoff exit and a bullpen that underperformed in October, losing Williams would deepen their offseason workload. Manager Aaron Boone relied heavily on Bednar late in the season, but the organization still needs reliable middle relief options—especially if Bednar shifts to a setup role should the team pursue a bigger name like Padres closer Robert Suarez.
Williams, for his part, told reporters he’s “definitely open” to re-signing with the Yankees but added, “It takes two parties for that.” With other teams already circling, that window could close fast.
The Cardinals have also been mentioned as a potential destination, which would allow the St. Louis native to pitch for his hometown team. But the Marlins’ need for a closer—and their willingness to hand him the ninth inning—gives them a clear advantage.
Unless the Yankees act quickly, Devin Williams’ brief Bronx tenure could end after just one season, leaving Miami poised to capitalize on one of the offseason’s most intriguing bullpen bargains.
