The New York Mets are not looking for a new closer. They have already decided that Devin Williams will anchor the ninth inning in 2027. According to Rising Apple, the team views Williams as the man to finish games and is now hunting for high-leverage arms to support him. This is a clear shift from the chaos of the past year. The front office knows exactly what it wants, and it is not a mystery.
Pat Ragazzo of Rising Apple reported that the club is targeting relievers who can handle the seventh and eighth innings. These are the critical spots that set up Williams. The Mets traded away A.J. Minter, Brooks Raley, Luke Weaver, and Huascar Brazobán at the trade deadline. Those moves left a hole, but the team has a specific plan to fill it. They are looking at left-handers like Alex Vesia and Tim Hill. They have also checked in on Minter and Raley again. Even free-agent right-hander Jonathan Loáisiga has drawn interest.
Getting Guys Out Is All That Matters
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns made his stance clear at the GM Meetings in Las Vegas. He told reporters that the team does not care about handedness or past roles. “It’s really ‘can we just get guys out?'” Earlier in the week, Stearns spoke to reporters at GM Meetings. He added that whether a pitcher is right-handed or left-handed is “a little bit less important for us.” This is a refreshing take. Too many teams get hung up on matchups instead of just finding guys who can retire batters.
Williams brings his own challenges to the table. Last season, he recorded a 4.43 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP across 44 appearances. In August, a right shoulder strain placed him on the injured list. He returned in late September to finish the year. Despite the rough ERA, the underlying numbers show promise. Against him, opponents swung and missed on 34.4% of their attempts. Baseball Savant put his expected ERA at 3.22. The Mets are betting on that ability to miss bats, not just the surface stats.
Money and Roster Spots Drive the Offseason
The financial commitment to Williams is significant. He signed a three-year deal worth $51 million last winter. The agreement includes a $6 million signing bonus. With two seasons left on that contract, the Mets have no reason to look elsewhere for the closer role. The real work is finding the bridge pitchers to get to him. Stearns has to clear six roster spots to protect seven prospects before the lockout hits on Dec. 2. Players like Jefferson Rojas and Jack Wenninger face risk if the team does not act fast.
The lockout could freeze all transactions until a new deal is reached. If the draft happens, the Mets could lose a young player they need for depth. To prepare the roster for the season, the front office must move quickly. This work stoppage places the Rule 5 Draft, set for Dec. 9, squarely in the middle. Should the lockout continue, the draft might never occur at all. Stearns must balance the risk of losing a prospect with the demand for roster flexibility. An early agreement on a deal would allow the draft to proceed as planned. Making these moves cannot wait until spring training. The Mets are seeking arms capable of securing big outs in their bullpen. They are not targeting relievers to replace Williams, whom the team considers their closer entering next season.
