D\u00edaz opted out of the final two years of his contract earlier in the offseason and is a free agent, but the Mets remain interested in keeping him, even with Williams, according to sources.<\/p>\n
D\u00edaz is coming off another stellar year with the Mets, fully recovered from the torn patellar tendon that cost him the 2023 season. <\/p>\n
Still, he turns 32 in March and it\u2019s unclear if the Mets are willing to give him a lengthy deal.<\/p>\n
It will be another change of scenery for Williams, who was expected to lock down the closer role with the Yankees after starring with the Brewers, but instead struggled enough that he lost the job twice \u2014 and for good when they traded for David Bednar at the deadline.<\/p>\n
![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/new-york-yankees-pitcher-devin-112530481.jpg\")
Devin Williams, now a Met, throws a pitch for the Yankees. JASON SZENES\/ NY POST<\/p>\n
The move also reunites Williams with David Stearns, who was the Brewers general manager for most of Williams\u2019 time in Milwaukee.<\/p>\n
But the Mets won\u2019t necessarily hand the ninth inning to Williams, who first landed in Mets lore when he allowed Pete Alonso\u2019s series-altering homer in Game 3 of the 2024 wild-card series in Milwaukee.<\/p>\n
Williams then went to the Yankees and initially fell on his face, pulled from the closer role in April with an 11.25 ERA over his first 10 appearances.<\/p>\n
He got the closer job back in early June, but faltered again.<\/p>\n
Williams recovered and pitched well in a setup role, especially in September, when he threw nine scoreless innings in nine appearances.<\/p>\n
He followed that up with a solid showing in the postseason.<\/p>\n
Williams ended the regular season with an ugly ERA of 4.79 \u2014 a career worst \u2014 and while his strikeout rate dipped, some other advanced metrics indicated Williams was a victim of at least some bad luck.<\/p>\n
The Mets are betting on that being the case and on Williams being able to ultimately handle the spotlight.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
After the Yankees were knocked out of the ALDS by the Blue Jays, Williams said he was \u201cdefinitely open\u201d to a return to The Bronx.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s hardly surprising for a prospective free agent, but he detailed why he\u2019d be more prepared for what would be in store for him if he remained with the team \u2014 and in New York following six seasons in small-market Milwaukee.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis place has definitely grown on me,\u2019\u2019 Williams said of The Bronx. \u201cI appreciate the fans and their \u2026 eagerness to win.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Asked if that took time to get used to, Williams said, \u201cIt did, a little, but I would say that they\u2019re fans and they just want to see their team win. That\u2019s the job we have to do and I\u2019d definitely be up for [coming back].\u201d<\/p>\n
While he won\u2019t be returning to the Yankees, perhaps his season with them will ease the transition to Citi Field.<\/p>\n
![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/new-york-yankees-pitcher-devin-113097678.jpg\")
Yankees pitcher Devin Williams delivers to a Toronto Blue Jays batter in the seventh inning of Game 4 of the MLB American League Division Series SARAH YENESEL\/EPA\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n