The Yankees and Brewers make a significant trade, swapping Devin Williams and Nestor Cortes to enhance their pitching for the 2025 season
New York: The Yankees made a big move on Friday, trading for Devin Williams from the Brewers. They sent Nestor Cortes Jr. and prospect Caleb Durbin to Milwaukee. This trade comes right after the buzz around Juan Soto’s exit from the Yankees, and it shows that the team is serious about strengthening their pitching for the upcoming season.
Both pitchers had tough moments in the postseason, with Williams giving up a crucial homer to Pete Alonso and Cortes allowing a walk-off grand slam to Freddie Freeman. But let’s not forget their overall talent. Williams has been a dominant closer with a career ERA of 1.83, while Cortes has been a solid starter, even if he faced some challenges last season.
Williams is expected to step right into the Yankees’ ninth-inning role, joining Luke Weaver in the bullpen. This is a crucial addition, especially after Clay Holmes left the team. Cortes, on the other hand, will bring a left-handed option to the Brewers’ rotation, which is mostly right-handed. He had a solid season last year, pitching over 174 innings, and he could be a key player for Milwaukee as they aim to defend their NL Central title.
This trade is a smart move for both teams. The Yankees are focusing on building a strong pitching staff, while the Brewers are looking to bolster their rotation. Plus, they’re not just giving up Williams for nothing; they’re getting a reliable starter in Cortes and a promising prospect in Durbin, who has shown great potential in the minors.
Durbin’s journey is pretty interesting too. He’s a Division III player who’s made it this far, and he’s got some impressive skills. He’ll be joining a Brewers team that needs to fill some gaps after losing star shortstop Willy Adames. It’ll be exciting to see how he fits into their plans.