Devin Williams’ tenure as the Yankees closer has hit turbulent waters, casting doubt on his ability to anchor the bullpen. The former Brewers star has blown consecutive saves and sports a concerning 5.10 ERA since Aaron Judge’s return, leaving fans questioning Boone’s loyalty.

Despite acquiring elite relievers Bednar and Doval, manager Aaron Boone remains committed to Williams. The Yankees’ five-game skid amplifies pressure to resolve their ninth-inning crisis as playoff hopes hang in the balance.

Devin Williams’ Yankees Closer Status in Jeopardy After Recent Struggles Despite Aaron Judge’s Return

Is Devin Williams Still the Right Choice for Yankees Closer?

The New York Yankees find themselves at a crossroads with their closer situation as Devin Williams continues to underperform despite Aaron Judge’s return to bolster the lineup. Williams, who was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers with elite credentials, has posted a 5.10 ERA since joining the Yankees while blowing two consecutive saves. This dramatic decline from his dominant Brewers days has left fans and analysts alike questioning whether he’s still the right man for the job.

Manager Aaron Boone remains publicly committed to Williams as his closer, but the numbers tell a concerning story. Williams’ walk rate has ballooned to 12.3% with the Yankees (up from 8.9% in Milwaukee), and his strikeout rate has dipped below 36%. These aren’t insignificant sample sizes either – we’re talking about 28 appearances since the trade that was supposed to solidify the Yankees’ bullpen for their playoff push.

This reminds me of when the Yankees acquired Aroldis Chapman in 2016. Even dominant relievers need time to adjust to New York, but with the playoff race heating up, can they afford to be patient?

How Aaron Judge’s Return Impacts the Bullpen Equation

With Aaron Judge back in the lineup after his elbow injury, the Yankees’ offense has regained its most dangerous weapon. However, Judge’s return hasn’t immediately translated to wins, as the team has lost five straight games since his activation. This creates an interesting dynamic for the bullpen – while they should theoretically have more leads to protect, each blown save becomes even more costly in this current skid.

Judge’s presence does change the bullpen calculus in several ways:

• More late-inning leads means higher-leverage situations for the closer
• Increased expectations make failures more magnified
• The offense’s ability to score runs puts less pressure on perfect bullpen performance

However, the Yankees can’t afford to keep squandering games they should win, especially with Tampa Bay gaining ground in the AL East. Judge’s bat provides more margin for error, but Williams’ struggles are eating into that cushion.

The Case For and Against a Closer Change

The Yankees face a difficult decision regarding their closer situation. On one hand, they’ve invested significant prospect capital to acquire Williams, and his track record suggests he should bounce back. On the other hand, they’re in the middle of a heated playoff race with alternatives already on the roster.

Reasons to Stick With Williams:

• Proven track record as one of baseball’s best relievers
• Still converting saves at 85% rate (17 of 20 opportunities)
• Elite strikeout stuff when at his best
• Team control through 2026 adds long-term value

Reasons to Make a Change:

• Possesses better alternatives in Bednar and Doval
• Recent performance shows no signs of improvement
• Every game matters in tight playoff race
• Potential psychological benefit of simplifying his role

History tells us elite relievers often struggle when changing teams, especially coming to New York. But Boone needs to ask himself whether loyalty is becoming stubbornness at this point.

Analyzing Devin Williams’ Statistical Decline

A deeper dive into Williams’ numbers reveals exactly where things have gone wrong since joining the Yankees:

Statistic	With Brewers	With Yankees
ERA	1.89	3.67
FIP	2.03	3.89
K%	40.2%	35.1%
BB%	8.9%	12.3%
HR/9	0.38	1.12

The most alarming trend is Williams’ fastball command. While his velocity remains strong (averaging 96.4 mph), he’s leaving more pitches over the heart of the plate. His signature changeup hasn’t been as effective either, with batters hitting .216 against it with the Yankees compared to .132 with Milwaukee.

Potential Alternatives if Yankees Make a Change

Should Boone decide to shake up the closer role, he has several strong alternatives already on the roster:

David Bednar

The right-hander came over from Pittsburgh with a 2.89 ERA and 24 saves. He features a devastating curveball that generates a 42.3% whiff rate and has closer experience.

Camilo Doval

Acquired from San Francisco, Doval brings elite velocity (average 98.7 mph cutter) and 32 saves this season. His 1.98 ERA would be the best in the Yankees bullpen.

Clay Holmes

The holdover from last year’s bullpen has been steady if unspectacular. His 2.45 ERA and heavy sinker could play well in the ninth inning.

Each option presents different strengths, with Bednar likely being the safest choice and Doval offering the highest upside. The Yankees also have other quality arms like Wandy Peralta who could see increased high-leverage work depending on how they realign the bullpen.

Bednar seems like the obvious choice if they make a change. Proven closer, great numbers, and he won’t be overwhelmed by the moment.

The Psychological Impact of a Potential Demotion

Beyond just the numbers, Boone must consider how removing Williams from the closer role might affect him psychologically. Relievers are often creatures of routine and confidence, and a public demotion could further shake Williams’ already fragile mental state.

There’s precedent for handling this situation carefully. When the Dodgers briefly removed Kenley Jansen from the closer role in 2019, they did it under the guise of giving him “a breather.” This approach allowed Jansen to regain form without the full weight of public failure.

The Yankees could employ similar tactics with Williams, perhaps:

• Giving him lower-leverage appearances to rebuild confidence
• Framing it as temporary while they monitor his workload
• Utilizing him in fireman roles rather than defined ninth-inning duties

How they handle Williams now could impact both their 2023 playoff chances and his long-term value to the organization.

Historical Precedent for Reliever Transitions

Looking around baseball history, we find numerous examples of elite relievers struggling after changing teams:

Pitcher	Previous Team ERA	New Team ERA	Rebound Time
Aroldis Chapman	1.63 (NYY)	2.21 (CHC)	3 months
Andrew Miller	1.35 (BAL)	2.15 (NYY)	Immediate
Kenley Jansen	2.22 (LAD)	3.81 (BOS)	6 months
Craig Kimbrel	1.43 (ATL)	2.58 (SD)	2 months

This data suggests that most elite relievers do eventually adjust after changing teams, but the timeline varies significantly. The Yankees must determine whether they can afford to wait for Williams to find his form or if the current playoff race demands immediate action.

The Yankees have seen this movie before with Chapman and Miller. Sometimes patience pays off, but the 2023 division race might be too tight for that approach.

Conclusion: What Should the Yankees Do?

After examining all angles of this situation, here’s the recommended course of action for the Yankees:

1. Give Williams 2-3 more save opportunities to show progress
2. If struggles continue, transition to a closer-by-committee with Bednar getting first shot
3. Use Williams in lower-leverage spots to rebuild confidence
4. Maintain open communication about roles and expectations
5. Re-evaluate in September when rosters expand

The Yankees didn’t acquire Devin Williams to replace him two months later, but they also didn’t acquire him to blow crucial games down the stretch. Finding the right balance between patience and urgency will be key to both their 2023 success and future bullpen plans.

Boone needs to make this decision based on performance, not ego or sunk cost. The good news is they have options – many teams would kill to have three potential closers like this.