"Mets Sign Dominant Reliever Devin Williams in $50M Deal"

The New York Mets have made a significant move in free agency, agreeing to a three-year contract with reliever Devin Williams. The deal is worth 45 million dollars with 5 million deferred, bringing his total guaranteed value to over 50 million. Williams, a two-time All-Star and two-time NL Reliever of the Year, spent the 2025 season with the Yankees after being traded from the Milwaukee Brewers. Despite posting a career-worst 4.79 ERA in 67 appearances with New York, Williams showed encouraging signs late in the season, finishing with 13 straight scoreless outings including four in the postseason. His strikeout rate remained elite at 34.7 percent, and his 2.68 FIP was more than two runs lower than his ERA, suggesting better underlying performance than his surface statistics indicated. The signing continues the Mets' aggressive offseason approach under president of baseball operations David Stearns, who has focused on building a strong bullpen. Williams is open to returning to a setup role with the team, a position he previously held in Milwaukee before shifting to the closer role.

This marks the second consecutive offseason in which the Mets have signed a major free agent away from the Yankees. Last year, the team signed Juan Soto, and now they've landed Williams in another significant acquisition from their crosstown rivals. The signing could have implications for the Mets' pursuit of All-Star closer Edwin Díaz, who is likely seeking more than a three-year deal. However, the team remains interested in bringing Díaz back, as the combination of Williams and Díaz would give the Mets a formidable bullpen tandem.

Meanwhile, the Baltimore Orioles have landed their closer for the 2026 season by signing right-hander Ryan Helsley to a two-year contract worth 28 million dollars. The deal features an opt-out after the first year. Helsley's signing set the market expectation for closers and may have influenced Williams' ability to secure his more lucrative deal.

In World Series news from earlier this month, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games to capture the championship. The series went the distance with the Dodgers ultimately prevailing.

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