With Clay Holmes, Tommy Kahnle, Tim Hill and Jonathan Loáisiga set to become free agents, the New York Yankees You can look for multiple high-leverage relievers this winter.

The free agent market offers several options, including Tanner Scott, Kenley Jansen, Jeff Hoffman and former Yankees David Robertson and Aroldis Chapman. However, if New York wants to preserve its budget while negotiating a historic contract with superstar Juan Soto, exploring trades could be a smarter approach.

Fortunately, an All-Star reliever appears to be available.

on sunday, Jeff Passan, ESPN expert reported that Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams is a trade candidate after the team declined his $10.5 million option. While Williams remains with the team, he is expected to earn between $8 million and $9 million in his final year of arbitration following an injury-plagued 2024 season, which could save the Brewers some money if they retain him.

Williams, 30, is a former NL Rookie of the Year (2020), two-time NL Reliever of the Year (2020, 2023) and two-time All-Star (2022, 2023). The right-hander has consistently ranked among MLB’s elite closers, dominating opponents with his unbeatable “airbender” changeup.

In 2024, Williams missed the first four months due to stress fractures in his back, appearing in only 22 regular season games. He dominated in that small sample size, making 14 saves with a 1.25 ERA, 2.06 FIP, and a whopping 43.2% strikeout rate. However, in his final postseason outing, Williams allowed a three-run home run to Pete Alonso in the ninth inning of Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series.

Over the past five years, Williams’ 1.70 ERA is second-best among qualified relievers, trailing only Emmanuel Clase. His 2.24 FIP ranks third behind only Edwin Diaz and Matt Brash, while his 40.8% strikeout rate is second only to Diaz.

If the Brewers opt to trade Williams this winter, they would be following a strategy similar to the one used with All-Star starter Corbin Burnes. Like Williams, Burnes had one year of club control left when the Brewers traded him to the Baltimore Orioles in February for third baseman Joey Ortiz and left-hander DL Hall. Last month, general manager Matt Arnold admitted that the Brewers should keep an “open mind” about the possibility of trading Williams.

Beyond Jake Cousins ​​and closer Luke Weaver—whose $2.5 million club option was exercised Friday—the Yankees’ bullpen lacked the ability to generate swings and misses. New York attempted to address this issue at the trade deadline by acquiring Enyel De Los Santos, who was released two weeks later, and Mark Leiter Jr., who struggled in the regular season but performed well in 5.1 postseason innings, despite being left off the list. ALDS List.

Pending free agents Holmes, Kahnle and Hill accounted for 29 of the Yankees’ 60.2 innings of relief this postseason, leaving a significant void in the bullpen. Acquiring Williams, who excels in high-leverage situations and has some of the best playmaking in the league, would greatly improve the team’s ability to shorten games next October. He could serve as a closer or setup man, a role he played while Josh Hader was still in Milwaukee.

After losing the World Series in five games to the Los Angeles Dodgers and with stars like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton entering their 30s, pressure is mounting on Yankees general manager Brian Cashman to capitalize on their championship window. .