The New York Yankees traded for Devin Williams this offseason, but he has not looked like himself so far this season. The Yankees could explore trading him near the trade deadline. The Chicago Cubs could be among those interested in him.
So far this season, Williams has not looked like the two-time All-Star the Yankees thought they were getting. His ERA is above 10, he has been stripped of closer duties and has allowed as many earned runs as the previous two seasons combined. He will be a free agent after this season.
The Yankees are hoping Williams can start pitching like himself again and help them get back to the World Series. However, if he continues to struggle, they may look to trade him to a team willing to try and fix him, before he walks for nothing in return when free agency starts. FanSided’s Mirana Remaklus thinks the Cubs could take a chance on Williams.
“One team that may call on the Yankees is the Chicago Cubs,” wrote Remaklus. “The team failed to make the one deal they desperately needed this offseason by not acquiring a strong reliever. The Cubs could make a move to get Williams out of the blinding lights of New York and hope that he can recapture his All-Star form back in the Midwest.”
The way he his playing now will not have many teams picking up the phone to try and get him. However, perhaps nobody knows what Williams is capable of more than Craig Counsell. Counsell managed Williams with the Milwaukee Brewers and even saw his transition into becoming a shutdown closer.
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The Cubs have Ryan Pressley, but they could use someone like Williams to be his setup man. Williams was the setup man for Josh Hader for many years under Counsell. The Cubs might be desperate enough in the bullpen to take a chance on a struggling Williams.
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