The New York Mets continue to explore every avenue to upgrade their bullpen this offseason, and a new name has officially joined their radar. According to reports from ESPN’s Jeff Passan and MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, the Mets are among the teams expressing interest in free-agent reliever Devin Williams, one of the most electric bullpen arms of the last half-decade.

Williams, 31, is drawing wide league-wide attention despite an uneven 2025 season with the Yankees. In addition to New York, both the Tigers and Giants have also emerged as suitors, while MLB insiders believe as many as a dozen teams have shown at least preliminary interest.

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Why the Mets Make Sense for Williams

There is one key connection that immediately puts the Mets into the conversation: David Stearns.

Before joining the Mets as President of Baseball Operations, Stearns helped oversee Williams’ early-career development in Milwaukee, where the right-hander blossomed into one of baseball’s most dominant late-inning pitchers. During his time with the Brewers, Williams won the 2020 NL Rookie of the Year, made multiple All-Star teams, and earned a reputation for one of the most unhittable pitches in the sport — his devastating, physics-defying changeup nicknamed the “Airbender.”

That familiarity matters. Stearns knows how Williams is wired, how he prepares, and what allows him to be his best. If the Mets are looking for high-upside bullpen help without paying for a perfect stat line, Williams becomes a particularly intriguing target.

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A Roller-Coaster 2025 Season — But Still Elite Under the Hood

Williams’ surface stats from 2025 may scare off certain teams:
62 IP, 4.79 ERA, and inconsistent command at times.

But smart front offices always zoom out — and Williams’ underlying numbers remained exceptional:

• 34.7% strikeout rate
• 3.07 xERA
• 2.95 xFIP
• Elite whiff percentage
• Changeup still grades as one of the most effective pitches in baseball

In other words, Williams’ season likely reflects a combination of bad luck, poor sequencing, and a defensive environment that didn’t do him any favors. His stuff remains intact, and contenders know it.

That’s why so many teams are in.

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How Much Will He Cost?

MLB Trade Rumors projects Williams to land a 4-year, $68 million contract — a significant commitment for a reliever, but in line with what high-end bullpen talent has fetched in recent years.

The Mets have the financial muscle to make a deal like this without impacting other major offseason goals. The bigger question is whether Stearns values Williams enough to make him a focal point of their bullpen retool.

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Where the Mets Stand

The Mets’ bullpen needs help, plain and simple. They lack reliable swing-and-miss arms beyond the back end, and the front office has made it clear that rebuilding the relief corps is a priority this winter.

A healthy, optimized Devin Williams giving you the seventh or eighth inning?

That’s the type of move that not only stabilizes the bullpen but elevates the entire pitching staff.

Given the Mets’ prior connection and present need, New York should absolutely be viewed as one of the strongest fits among all suitors.

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Final Thoughts

Williams isn’t the safest reliever on the market — but he might be the one with the highest upside. And for a Mets team trying to push forward in 2026 without sacrificing long-term flexibility, upside plays in the bullpen make a lot of sense.

Expect the Mets to remain involved as Williams’ market develops. And if they ultimately land him, don’t be surprised when that “Airbender” starts dropping jaws at Citi Field.