Devin Williams may choose a surprising reunion as the smartest way to rebuild his value

Devin Williams may choose a surprising reunion as the smartest way to rebuild his value originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Devin Williams didn’t expect to be here. A year ago, he was traded to the New York Yankees and positioned to hit the market as one of the most coveted relievers in baseball. Instead, a rocky 2025 season changed everything, putting the former National League Reliever of the Year in the unusual position of searching for the right place to rebuild what once made him dominant.

Milwaukee might be that place. MLB.com threw the reunion out there as a "Mad Lib," but it makes some sense.

Williams’ 2025 in New York was uneven from the start.

The right-hander finished with a 4.79 ERA across 62 innings, striking out 90 with 18 saves but struggling to locate his changeup consistently. His walk rate spiked, the movement on the “Airbender” wasn’t as sharp, and the Yankees never fully figured out how to stabilize his mechanics. He lost his closing job and the Yankees had to go out and trade for David Bednar to pitch the ninth inning.

It was a disappointing walk year that likely cost him a lot of money.

Williams has made it clear he'd be happy to return to the Yankees about a reunion, which any agent would say is a smart move when hitting free agency, but he looked miserable there. Industry speculation has connected him to the Los Angeles Dodgers,  a team that could offer more money than Milwaukee. But even a Dodgers contract would be far smaller than anyone expected a year ago.

Williams could look to have a rebound season to reclaim his market in a familiar place.

And that’s where Milwaukee enters the picture. A short-term reunion makes surprising baseball sense.

The Brewers built him into an All-Star, developed the pitch mix that turned his changeup into one of the most unhittable offerings in the game, and know how to get the most out of him. They also need bullpen stability after dealing with Williams and reshaping their roster. Their pitching infrastructure is still one of baseball’s best and Williams thrived in that environment.

For the Brewers, this is exactly the kind of low-risk, high-reward move they’ve leaned on for years. For Williams, it’s a chance to restore value in a familiar place, with less pressure and better odds of rediscovering elite form. A one-year “prove it” deal could set him up to re-enter a weaker 2026–27 reliever market with real leverage.