Yankees Reliever On $8.6 Million Deal Quietly Turning Season Around

Yankees Reliever On $8.6 Million Deal Quietly Turning Season Around originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Devin Williams earned his 10th save of the season Sunday, a milestone that once seemed out of reach. Earlier this year, the former All-Star lost his grip on the closer role after a string of rocky outings. The Yankees didn’t panic, but they did pivot. Luke Weaver took over ninth-inning duties, and Williams was left to regroup.

He’s done just that—and then some.

Since late May, Williams has quietly reclaimed his spot in the circle of trust. He’s now gone scoreless in 16 of his last 18 appearances, a stretch that has reset the tone of his season and reopened the door to high-leverage moments. His latest save was crisp and commanding, and it came with Weaver set to return soon from the injured list.

The timing couldn’t be better.

With both right-handers trending upward, the Yankees may be building one of the most dangerous back ends in the American League. In fact, the bullpen as a whole has been dominant lately, allowing just three earned runs over the last 33 innings. That’s an ERA of 0.82 across the past 11 games—a stretch that’s helped stabilize the team through inconsistent offense and injuries.

Manager Aaron Boone hasn’t said how the ninth will be handled when Weaver is fully back, but the results speak for themselves: Williams has earned another shot.

And if both relievers stay sharp, Boone may not need to choose. He could deploy either arm based on matchups, usage, or even keep hitters guessing. In a season where the Yankees have needed every edge, a bullpen resurgence led by Williams might be one of the biggest surprises yet.

Related: Yankees Scouting Familiar Face as Possible Trade Target

Related: Former Yankees Slugger Signs Overseas for Remainder of 2025 Season

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.