The New York Yankees are no strangers to bold moves, but even by their standards, the latest shake-up in the bullpen has sent shockwaves through the baseball world. In a season already filled with sky-high expectations and relentless scrutiny, the decision to demote high-profile offseason acquisition Devin Williams from the closer role is both a dramatic twist and a sobering reflection of the unforgiving nature of Major League Baseball.

Williams arrived in the Bronx with considerable fanfare, his two All-Star selections and devastating changeup fueling hopes that he would lock down the ninth inning and help propel the Yankees to World Series glory. The front office paid a steep price to secure his services, parting ways with significant talent and signaling their win-now mentality. Yet, just weeks into the 2025 campaign, the narrative has shifted from optimism to concern as Williams has struggled mightily to find his footing in pinstripes.

The numbers tell a grim story: an ERA north of 11, a worrying spike in walks, and a drop in strikeout efficiency that has left fans and analysts alike searching for answers. The latest meltdown against the Toronto Blue Jays was the tipping point, forcing manager Aaron Boone to make a difficult but necessary call. For now, the keys to the ninth inning will be handed to Luke Weaver, while Williams is left to regroup and rediscover the form that once made him one of the game’s most dominant relievers.

This turn of events raises tough questions about the Yankees’ offseason strategy, the pressure of performing in New York, and the fine line between triumph and turmoil in the big leagues. As the Bronx faithful look for reassurance, the spotlight is now firmly on Williams—and on the Yankees’ ability to adapt and overcome adversity.

New York Yankees relief pitcher Devin Williams. Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Yankees demote All-Star offseason acquisition

The New York Yankees have seen enough from Devin Williams for the time being.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone revealed to reporters on Sunday that he has decided to remove Williams from the closer role. Boone added that the move is “for right now” and noted that fellow reliever Luke Weaver will likely handle the majority of the ninth-inning duties from here.

The decision by Boone comes after Williams had another meltdown in Friday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays. In that contest, Williams came in with a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning and promptly allowed three earned runs on a two hits and a hit-by-pitch, failing to record a single out as the Yankees went on to lose 4-2.

May 6, 2023; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17) looks on against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fifth inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Williams now owns a horrific 11.25 ERA over his 10 appearances for the Yankees so far this season. The veteran righty is also walking a lot of batters (seven free passes over 8.0 total innings pitched) and his K/9 is down to 9.0 (compared to his career mark of 14.1).

The Yankees gave up a good amount to acquire Williams, a two-time All-Star, in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers this past offseason. That included another former All-Star pitcher as well as some younger talent.

But the return on investment for the Yankees thus far on Williams has been dirt poor. While the team likely just wants to give Williams some time to gain back his confidence in lower-leverage roles, that trade looks pretty bad right now, especially given that the Yankees have even done some notable pandering to Williams in recent months.