Devin Williams, the Yankees’ struggling reliever, has been temporarily removed from the closer role, manager Aaron Boone announced Sunday before New York’s doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays.
“For right now, I’m taking him out of that role,” Boone said, referring to Williams, who has posted an 11.25 ERA over 10 appearances and allowed 10 earned runs in his first season with the Yankees. A two-time All-Star and two-time winner of the National League Trevor Hoffman Award, Williams was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in December in a trade for Nestor Cortes and infield prospect Caleb Durbin.
In Williams’ absence, Luke Weaver — who closed games for the Yankees late last season — will handle most of the ninth-inning duties.
Williams’ most recent struggles came Friday, when the Blue Jays rallied for three runs in the ninth inning to beat the Yankees 4–2. Alejandro Kirk delivered a two-run double off Williams, who failed to retire any of the three batters he faced, falling behind each in the count.
Kirk’s double resulted in Williams’ first blown save of the season, although the right-hander has struggled throughout the year and was even pulled from a non-save situation back on April 9 in Detroit.
The 30-year-old Williams owns a career record of 27-12 with 72 saves and a 2.14 ERA over 251 relief appearances between the Brewers and Yankees.
