The Milwaukee Brewers are sure to have a rather interesting offseason this winter. Shortstop Willy Adames is almost surely going to leave the team as a free agent. After hitting .251/.331/.462 with 32 home runs, 112 RBI, and 21 stolen bases in 2024, Adames is considered to be the best shortstop on the free agent market. He has no shortage of potential suitors, with the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers rumored to be among the teams pursuing him.
But while Milwaukee can do little to affect Adames’ final decision, they do have control over where two-time All-Star closer Devin Williams will play in 2025.
The Milwaukee Brewers Were Rumored to Be Interested in Trading Devin Williams
Williams is coming off of a 2024 season that saw him miss the first few months due to stress fractures in his back. When he did return to the field, though, he was his usual dominant self.
The 2020 NL Rookie of the Year finished the season with 22 appearances, a 1.25 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 14 saves. However, when Milwaukee made the decision to decline his $10.5 million option for 2025, many took it as a sign that they were ready to move on from the two-time Hoffman Award winner.
Even with his $10.5 million option declined, Williams is still pegged to make $8-9 million next season. Given the Brewers’ history of trading many of their star players before they hit free agency, the assumption was that they would do the same to Williams.
However, that does not appear to be the case any longer.
The Milwaukee Brewers Do Not Plan on Trading Devin Williams (Yet)
According to a report by Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Brewers are planning on holding onto Williams, at least for the start of the 2025 season. “The Brewers suggested they’re keeping him, so the star closer might be a deadline deal,” he wrote.
This is certainly a change in the way Milwaukee usually does things, as both Josh Hader and Corbin Burnes were traded before they hit free agency.
Then again, the Brewers did decide to hang onto Adames through his final season of club control because of the kind of leader he is and due to the fact that they expected to compete.
As Milwaukee expects to build upon the success they enjoyed in 2024 under Pat Murphy, it makes sense that they will want to run it back with as many players as possible.
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
