ORLANDO — With Devin Williams bolting the Bronx for the crosstown rival Mets, Brian Cashman mentioned that he by no means made the reliever a proper supply.
The Yankees basic supervisor did converse to Williams’ rep a few times and requested for updates on the right-hander’s market. Nonetheless, Cashman by no means obtained a name again.
“I’m not saying he needed to,” Cashman continued Sunday night time on the Winter Conferences in Orlando.
Williams ended up getting a three-year, $51 million deal from the Mets. The payday adopted a turbulent season for the 31-year-old, because the Yankees needed to pull him from the nearer’s position twice. Hindered by a couple of implosions and blown saves, particularly early on within the season, Williams ended the season with a 4.79 ERA over 62 innings.
Acquired by the Yankees from the Brewers for Nestor Cortes and Caleb Durbin final offseason, Williams additionally performed a catalytic position within the Yankees ending the long-standing facial hair ban final spring. That didn’t do him any favors within the eyes of some followers as he struggled.
Whereas Williams didn’t put up nice floor numbers final season, the two-time Nationwide League Reliever of the 12 months had sturdy free agent curiosity after sustaining spectacular metrics. His xBA, Chase%, Whiff% & Ok% had been all within the ninety fifth percentile or higher, and his Stuff+ was 114. His xERA (3.09) and FIP (2.68) had been drastically higher than his ERA, and he completed the 12 months with 13 straight scoreless outings, together with the playoffs.
Outcomes apart, Williams has repeatedly mentioned that he favored the way in which he threw the ball for many of final season. Cashman didn’t disagree with that analysis.
“He had a handful of games that destroyed the overall numbers,” Cashman mentioned. “I assumed he pitched fairly near what he’d at all times pitched within the years passed by.
“He was a weapon that [Aaron Boone] could deploy. He helped us. At the end of the day, I don’t disagree with how he would describe the season. So bringing him back, I wouldn’t have made the phone call if it wasn’t a possibility. We didn’t make an offer, but I did have that conversation.”
Williams wasn’t the one Yankees reliever to hit the open market this winter, as Luke Weaver stays a free agent. Cashman mentioned he has spoken to the righty’s rep, although he didn’t say greater than that.
The Yankees have a number of holes to fill of their bullpen, however they do have a better in David Bednar, who was acquired from the Pirates final summer season. Bednar would make free agent closers like Edwin Díaz and Robert Suarez luxuries for a membership with different wants, however Cashman wouldn’t rule something out.
“Bednar is our guy, but my job is to be open-minded to see what more I can add,” he mentioned.
