NEW YORK — Devin Williams apparently has a lot to say now that he is headed to Queens. The former Yankees closer took a swipe at Bronx fans on Wednesday after signing a three-year, $51 million deal with the rival Mets. But his comments reveal a blind spot the size of Citi Field.
Williams posted on his Instagram Story with a message aimed directly at Yankees supporters. His words carried the kind of smugness that tends to age poorly in New York baseball.
“For a bunch of people that didn’t want me back on your team, [y’all] sure are mad in the [DMs],” Williams wrote on Instagram along with a laughing emoji.
The two-time NL Reliever of the Year seemed to enjoy the moment. What he failed to mention is the hornet’s nest waiting in Queens. Mets fans showed zero patience for underperforming stars this year. Williams might want to check how they treated his new teammate.
Williams himself to blame for his Bronx issues
Yankees fans have legitimate reasons for frustration. Williams posted a career-worst 4.79 ERA across 67 appearances in 2025. He recorded 18 saves in 22 chances but lost his closer role multiple times. Manager Aaron Boone pulled him from ninth-inning duties after an 11.25 ERA through his first 10 games.
The reliever regained the job only to lose it again in August. His struggles against the Toronto Blue Jays proved costly. Williams went 0-2 with five runs allowed in three innings against the division rival. The Yankees and Blue Jays tied for the AL East lead at 94-80. New York lost the crown based on head-to-head record.
Then came the beard saga. Williams pushed back against the Yankees’ 49-year-old facial hair policy. He met with owner Hal Steinbrenner and GM Brian Cashman. The Yankees reversed the rule in February. he grew his beard back immediately.
Yankees fans watched him force a policy change and struggle all season. The combination did not sit well. Supporters felt betrayed when Williams walked to Queens after getting what he wanted from the organization.
What Williams forgot about Mets fans
Here is where Williams seems to have selective memory. He mocked Yankees fans for booing him during a rough season. He apparently has no idea what awaits him across town. Mets supporters made Juan Soto’s life miserable during his early struggles.
Soto signed a record $765 million contract. He got off to a slow start. Mets fans booed him at Citi Field in April when his average dropped to .221. WFAN radio host Sal Licata ranted about his performance.
“You don’t pay $765 million to a guy who gets on base 40% of the time,” Licata said on April 17. “Every single time he has come up in a big spot, he has failed this year.”
The boos got worse in May. Soto heard it after going 0-for-4 against the lowly White Sox. Fans accused him of lacking effort. By August, Mets supporters booed Soto again during a losing stretch. This was Citi Field, not Yankee Stadium. These are the fans Williams will now pitch for.
History suggests Williams should stay humble
Williams seems confident Queens will offer a softer landing than the Bronx. History suggests otherwise. Mets fans booed Francisco Lindor during his first season. They showed Carlos Beltran no mercy. They turned on their own stars faster than Yankees fans ever did.
The reliever finished his Yankees tenure with a -0.3 bWAR. His underlying metrics looked better than results. He posted a 2.68 FIP compared to his bloated ERA. Williams struck out 90 batters but allowed 33 earned runs after giving up just 41 over the previous four seasons combined.
The Mets are paying $17 million per year for Williams to figure things out. They remain interested in Edwin Diaz. Devin might not even close games. He could set up for Diaz like he did for Luke Weaver with the Yankees.
“At first it was a challenge, but I’ve grown to love being here,” Williams said in October after the Yankees lost to Toronto in the ALDS. “I love this city. I love taking the train to the field every day.”
Those comments came weeks before he apparently decided Yankees fans were the problem. He failed to mention how supporters cheered him during four scoreless postseason appearances. They gave him a chance to redeem himself.
The real message Williams sent
Williams joins Juan Soto as another player who spent one year in the Bronx before heading to Queens. The Yankees lost their chance to re-sign Soto when the Mets offered more money. They watched Williams sign with the rival after choosing not to extend a qualifying offer.
His Instagram post tells Yankees fans everything. Williams wanted support during tough times. He wanted them to appreciate his underlying metrics while blowing leads. He got frustrated when they held him accountable.
Now he laughs at their disappointment. He thinks Mets fans will be different. The Soto experience suggests otherwise. Williams will face the Yankees at least six times during Subway Series games next season. He will pitch at Yankee Stadium in front of fans who dislike him.
The only question is whether Mets fans join the chorus if Williams struggles again. Based on how they treated a future Hall of Famer during a cold stretch, the answer seems obvious. Devin mocked one New York fan base while walking into another one that might be even tougher.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
