The New York Yankees season has begun to wobble just when they needed stability the most. After losing their fourth straight game and dropping to third place in the American League East, the team faces an urgent crossroads to redefine its closer role before it’s too late.
The straw that broke the camel’s back came on Monday night when Devin Williams again failed in his role as closer, allowing a home run in the ninth inning to pinch hitter Joc Paderson. It was his third blown save of the year and his second consecutive failure, his ERA rose to 5.10, a worrying number for a pitcher who came in with elite expectations.
Yankees must change closer: Devin Williams’ decline in 2025
Since his arrival at the Yankees in December 2024 after a trade that sent Nestor Cortes and Caleb Durbin to Milwaukee, Devin Williams has been far from his usual level. Used to dominating from the bullpen, in New York it has been the opposite, with 24 earned runs allowed in just 42.1 innings, almost matching what he received between 2022 and 2024 with the Brewers in 141 innings.
It started with alarming numbers in April, briefly stabilized in June and fell again in July. Despite his track record, the recent mistakes have been too costly for a playoff-aspiring team.
Boone could choose David Bernar or Camilo Doval as Yankees’ new closer
In an attempt to shore up the vulnerable bullpen, the Yankees added David Bednar, Camilo Doval and Jake Bird at the trade deadline, although all three have had early stumbles. Bednar and Doval have experience in high-pressure situations and could take over the closer’s role immediately.
Aaron Boone finds himself in a delicate but necessary decision, if he wants to keep October aspirations alive, he needs to let go of the idea that Williams can recover under the weight of the ninth inning. Reassigning him to a less critical role while exploring more reliable alternatives could be the move that saves the season.
The responsibility now falls on Boone, who needs to redefine the closing of games to avoid reversing the situation in a campaign that is faltering and if a change comes in time, the Yankees would still have aspirations and control over their destiny.
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