Brewers Decline All-Star Closer’s Club Option; Could Trade Be On Horizon?

In 2022, the Milwaukee Brewers traded their All-Star closer Josh Hader to the Padres for a massive return. Milwaukee could comfortably make that deal because they had another All-Star reliever behind Hader in Devin Williams.

Now 2 1/2 years later, Williams’ own future with the team is in question.

Sunday afternoon, MLB insider Jeff Passan reported that the Brewers were declining Williams’ $10.5 million club option. Williams would receive a $250,000 buyout.

The All-Star closer remains with Milwaukee and will be in his final year of arbitration. Passan also notes that Williams could be a trade candidate this winter.

Williams, 30, is a two-time All-Star with the Brewers. Across his six-year career, he’s thrown 235.2 innings with a 1.83 ERA. His career WHIP sits at 1.02 with a staggering rate of over 14 strikeouts per nine innings.

Since Hader was traded, Williams has tallied 15 saves, 36 saves and 14 saves, respectively, over the last 2 1/2 seasons.

But he notably collapses in the postseason, including this year. Williams surrendered the go-ahead home run to Mets slugger Pete Alonso that ended the Brewers season in October.

Williams would be quite an interesting trade candidate this winter. Teams like the Yankees, Phillies, Mets and many others come to mind.

Just about every team in the league could use a closer like Williams, even with his history of postseason struggles.

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