Devin Williams didn’t get the warmest welcome during his lone season in the Bronx, and to be fair, he didn’t give fans many reasons to warm up to him. He opened the year with a rough 9.00 ERA in his first dozen outings, took a few loud boos on the way to the dugout, and eventually lost the closer job to Luke Weaver and then David Bednar. By the time the postseason arrived, the relationship was already shaky.
Things didn’t improve much during the Yankees’ brief ALDS run. After Game 3, Williams hinted that the Bronx crowd had been tough on him all season, even after giving him a standing ovation. His comment about it feeling “nice to feel appreciated sometimes” didn’t go unnoticed. It added to the sense that pitcher and fanbase were drifting in opposite directions.
So when he hit free agency this winter and signed a three-year, 50 million dollar deal with the Mets, the move felt more like a breakup than a baseball transaction.And then the Instagram story came out.
For a bunch of people that didn’t want me back on your team, y’all are sure mad in the DMs
Devin Williams to the Mets: A single post lights up the Bronx
Shortly after the deal became official, Williams posted a message aimed at Yankees fans that immediately ripped through social media: “For a bunch of people that didn’t want me back on your team, y’all are sure mad in the DMs.”
That line was enough to launch a wave of memes, jokes, and flat-out irritation from Yankees fans who had been waiting for a chance to respond. Some labeled him “soft” and said the move to Queens was fitting. Others joked that he seemed more concerned with Yankees fans than with his new team. A few even roped Juan Soto into the conversation, claiming the outfielder still misses the Bronxmore than Williams ever did.
Plenty of fans pointed out that the numbers didn’t really help his case. Williams posted a 4.79 ERA over 67 appearances and finished with negative WAR. For a reliever who arrived with a 1.83 ERA across six previous seasons, the disappointment felt sharp.
It’s nice to feel appreciated sometimes. It was definitely better than what I’ve had for much of the year
Now he heads to Queens, where the Mets expect him to close games while Edwin Díaz remains a free agent. Mets fans are hopeful, Yankees fans are watching closely, and social media is already predicting how this will end. A few Bronx loyalists even joked that Mets fans will eventually join them in their frustration.
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