Yankees acquire Devin Williams for Nestor Cortes and Caleb Durbin
- Thread starter DeadlySplitter
- Start date
Seems like a good trade for everyone.
Devin is the best reliever in baseball. Fried and Devin is a hell of a boost.
Devin is the best reliever in baseball. Fried and Devin is a hell of a boost.
I might be a naive idiot not looking at values, but I was not joking
Williams is really damn good.
Is Durbin that highly regarded? Cortes is only 1 year of control as well.
Crawford plus Hamilton is infinitely better than Cortes and Durbin. Cortes is a FA next year. Durbin is 5 foot 5.
I was just picking out "#5 starter + 2B depth" equivalents on the Sox when making my post. Cortes+Durbin honestly feels a bit light to me for Williams.
Yeah, this sucks. Good for the Yankees though. Really feel like Milwaukee could have done better here.
Durbin had a very nice 2024 at AAA - wRC+ of 129 to go with 29 steals in 82 games. Not sure how his defense but if it's at least passable, I'm assuming he's the starting 2b for Milwaukee in 2025.
You're talking about 1 year of service time left in both Williams and Cortes. If they are both healthy, I think this is a very good trade for both teams since NY didn't need Cortes after the Fried contract.
You're talking about 1 year of service time left in both Williams and Cortes. If they are both healthy, I think this is a very good trade for both teams since NY didn't need Cortes after the Fried contract.
Wasn't expecting this and love the move. Bullpen was an obvious area of need and we have (had) too many starters. Kinda wish it was Stroman though...I will really miss Nestor.
This is an excellent, excellent move for the Yankees. I'm a bit surprised there was nobody else out there who wouldn't top that offer.
On the upside, Devin Williams is a guy who once punched a clubhouse wall and broke his hand . . . after a win.
Really insane move for the Brewers. At least wait until the trade deadline and see where your team stands, not to mention the package is kind of piss. Also shame on other contenders who did not beat this package, including the Red Sox.
Well, this is delightful news. See ya later, Nestor. Thanks for that grooved 87mph fastball to Freeman.
Pretty sure Stroman will go too, NY has a bunch of moves left still, I think.
Very solid for MFY. Have to believe any possible package for Tucker (not that there was any possible package for Tucker) is moot now if they can't include Gil.
Durbin seems like the Yankees’ version of Meidroth to me - versatile, good on-base skills. Useful player, for sure.
I mean, I'd rather have Nestor as the 5th starter if Gil is traded, but if it brings Tucker over, Stroman as that guy is fine. Especially if the Yankees can improve the infield defense.
Can't believe the Brewers bought into the Durbin hype that hard, though he does fit their mold perfectly (contact-oriented, defensively versatile, plus-plus basestealer, will cost next to nothing for the next 3-6 years). Still feels like a light return for Williams even with the pending free agency — I have to imagine they could've done better closer to the start of the season or at the deadline unless they're both really high on Durbin and think that Cortes is better/cheaper than what they could've scrounged up in free agency to fill out the back of the rotation. Worth noting too that they have next to zero pitching depth, so this does fill a position of need for them.
View: https://twitter.com/hoodiegleyber/status/1867623318939218142?s=46&t=-M7K07aV9oTvsCKHtZkfZQ
This is kinda true.
Love the seal. Keep going!
This is kinda true.
Love the seal. Keep going!
Not sure the bright lights of NYC is the place for his best years. Short sample size and all, but he basically pitched the Brew Crew out of the playoffs this year in about 6 minutes. Hoping for the Ed Whitson effect here. 2025 YED cannot get here soon enough. Also, as a Reds follower, Milwaukee is taking on the cloak of NL Tampa Bay. This makes sense in a Dollar General sort of way.
Maybe I'm one of the few that doesn't really love this trade for the Yankees. I don't hate it or anything, I understand it, but...
Durbin I think is being slightly underrated. He's not Tyler Wade, he has WAY better bat / zone control at the top levels of the minors, more walks than strikeouts his entire MiLB career.
Even with his bat control approach, he has more power than you'd expect likely due to his ability to aggressively attack the basepaths on line drives, had a .451 SLG last year in 375 PAs, not even counting his .548 SLG in the 117 PAs in the AFL. And of course 60 SB and 5 CS in 114 total games last year.
As a middle infielder with 6 years of team control there's potentially very real value there. The fear is he just can't generate enough solid contact against MLB pitching with his frame, but I just think those BB/K rates and SLG are good signs.
1 year of control of Devin Williams is 1 year of control of a great reliever who pitched 21 innings last year. Due to a back fracture.
Durbin I think is being slightly underrated. He's not Tyler Wade, he has WAY better bat / zone control at the top levels of the minors, more walks than strikeouts his entire MiLB career.
Even with his bat control approach, he has more power than you'd expect likely due to his ability to aggressively attack the basepaths on line drives, had a .451 SLG last year in 375 PAs, not even counting his .548 SLG in the 117 PAs in the AFL. And of course 60 SB and 5 CS in 114 total games last year.
As a middle infielder with 6 years of team control there's potentially very real value there. The fear is he just can't generate enough solid contact against MLB pitching with his frame, but I just think those BB/K rates and SLG are good signs.
1 year of control of Devin Williams is 1 year of control of a great reliever who pitched 21 innings last year. Due to a back fracture.
I was curious about Durbin, but I hope this results in Chisholm going back to 2B.
More moves to come. I wonder if an extension for Williams is one of them.
More moves to come. I wonder if an extension for Williams is one of them.
Those moves, IF they can't swing Tucker (which I have to assume is somewhat on the unlikely side), may include just resigning Torres and leaving Chisholm at 3B.
More generally - I think Cortes is being slightly underrated here too. He's been a 3-4 WAR starter 2 out of the 3 years since he became a fulltime SP, with the down year being injury related rather than underperformance. One year of a 3-4 WAR starter has real value.
Brewers seem in desperate need of starters (losing Rea and Montas); and given the escalating cost of mid tier FA’s, it’s not really a surprise they traded for one. Imagine their pen will be fine, it was pretty good last year and Williams barely pitched. Imagine both players in this deal were interested in a fresh start too.
Seems doubtful given their depth chart. Mets can sign FA starters more easily than the Brewers can.
Yankees are really leaning into the painful-playoff-loss vibe with the Fried and Williams signings (and I think both are really good additions for next year).
I mostly agree and think the deal is more fair than a steal. Nestor has real value.
The Yankees dealing from a position of excess for a position of need is fine. I don't know if they had 1B/3B trade options for Nestor or not, but elite RP works.
I'm also guessing Tucker isn't going to happen and won't be surprised if he isn't dealt at all. Regardless, hopefully the Yankees can make their play for him after next season.
Pitching and defense for 2025. A lot depends on how the remaining holes are filled. I wish Walker would sign. I'd like Bregman a whole lot better if he batted lefty and would rather find someone else.
We'll see what happens.
And as I typed that, Heyman posted too:
View: https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1867646059435938068
View: https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1867646059435938068