NEW YORK — The New York Yankees are facing a growing crisis in the ninth inning, and manager Aaron Boone’s latest remarks have only intensified the uncertainty surrounding Devin Williams‘ role as closer.
Williams blew his third save of the season on Monday night in Texas, surrendering a game-tying solo homer to pinch-hitter Joc Pederson — a batter hitting just .126 at the time. The Yankees lost the game 8-5 in extra innings, and Williams’ failure to close it out added another crack to an already fragile bullpen structure.
Boone hedges support as Williams falters again
When pressed after the game about whether Williams remains his closer, Boone offered little assurance.
“Look, we have really good guys down there, Devin included. We’ve got to be able to close out these games though,” Boone said.
It was a shift in tone from earlier weeks, when Boone publicly defended Williams’ role despite the team acquiring two high-leverage arms at the trade deadline. The hesitance in his voice on Sunday may mark the beginning of a transition.
Williams, for his part, didn’t shy away from accountability.
“Being a closer is a position you have to earn and you have to keep earning it to continue to be in that role, so lately I haven’t been doing that,” the 30-year-old right-hander said.
Numbers tell the story of a downward slide
Williams’ 2025 season has been defined by inconsistency. He owns a 5.10 ERA across 42.1 innings — a stark contrast to his 1.83 ERA during his All-Star-caliber years with Milwaukee from 2019 to 2024.
The Yankees acquired him in December in exchange for Nestor Cortes and two prospects, hoping to land a dominant late-inning force. But after an 11.25 ERA in his first eight outings, Boone removed him from the closer role in April.
He reclaimed the position in June following an injury to Luke Weaver and momentarily steadied himself with a 0.87 ERA for the month. Since then, however, he has again regressed. Over his last seven appearances, Williams has allowed six earned runs — good for a 7.71 ERA in that stretch.
His signature “Airbender” changeup hasn’t fooled batters the way it once did. His average fastball velocity has dipped to 93.8 mph from a career mark of 94.9, and he’s leaving more pitches in the strike zone.
Trade deadline moves show organizational doubt
The Yankees’ actions at the July 31 trade deadline spoke volumes. General manager Brian Cashman added proven closers David Bednar and Camilo Doval, as well as setup man Jake Bird. The club sent away six prospects to land them, a clear sign of urgency.
Bednar brought 17 saves and a 2.37 ERA with Pittsburgh, while Doval added 15 saves with San Francisco, showing sharp improvement from a rocky 2024 season.
Boone initially insisted that “Devin Williams will stay in the closer’s role, with the new trio filling in around him.” But following Sunday’s collapse, Boone’s language changed.
“The reality is, we have a number of guys that are more than capable of getting the final three outs,” Boone said. “Shortening the game has been a little bit of a challenge for us over the last month and a half, with some of the injuries we’ve had.”
Yankees pressure building for Williams
Williams isn’t the first talent to unravel under the weight of New York’s expectations. The Yankees have a long history of players who couldn’t maintain their performance under the microscope — from Kevin Brown to Javier Vazquez.
“Things haven’t been going well for a while. I think everyone’s well aware of that,” Williams said after the blown save in Texas. “This game and the last one, it was really one pitch that hurt me. But that’s the difference between winning and losing sometimes, and I can’t let that happen.”
At 60-53, the Yankees sit third in the AL East but still hold a Wild Card position, with ESPN’s projections giving them a 93.3% chance of making the playoffs.
That number, however, may be misleading. Postseason success often hinges on bullpen stability. Since 2015, teams with a reliable closer have won over 71% of games when entering the ninth with a one-run lead.
Williams is earning $8.6 million in his final arbitration year. If his form doesn’t stabilize, the Yankees may be forced to hand the ball to Bednar or Doval sooner than planned. With both under team control and already proven, the switch could be seamless.
The franchise’s title hopes depend on getting the ninth inning right. Boone’s changing tone indicates the clock is ticking for Williams, and the next blown save could be the last straw.
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