As was the case last offseason, the Milwaukee Brewers have a star pitcher that is highly regarded around Major League Baseball that may be on the trading block. Of course, last year it was Corbin Burnes, the 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner, who was eventually traded to the Baltimore Orioles. This year, it is two-time All-Star and two-time Hoffman Relief Pitcher of the Year Devin Williams.
While much of the offseason transaction chatter involving the Brewers is centered on free agent shortstop Willy Adames (who hit .251/.331/.462 with 31 home runs and 112 RBI), it should not be forgotten that Williams is entering his final season of club control.
Many were surprised that Milwaukee held onto Adames last offseason because they are well-known for off-loading their most talented players before they hit free agency in order to get top prospects in return. This is what they did with Williams’ predecessor at closer, Josh Hader.
The Milwaukee Brewers Saw Success Without Devin Williams in 2024
There is absolutely no question that Williams is a dynamic closer, arguably the best in all MLB. This past year, he was 1-0 with a 1.25 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 14 saves. The year previously, his first full season as a closer, he went 8-3 with a 1.53 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 36 saves.
That being said, Williams missed a fair portion of the 2024 season with stress fractures in his back. With him on the shelf, the Brewers used a closer-by-committee approach that, obviously, worked out quite well.
Trevor Megill actually led Milwaukee in saves this season with 21 while posting a 2.72 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. Joel Payamps recorded six saves and Abner Uribe had three. Elvis Peguero was the only other Brewers reliever with multiple saves (two).
Brewers players who recorded one save throughout the season were: Colin Rea, Jared Koenig, Hoby Milner, Jakob Junis, Thyago Vieria, Enoli Paredes, and Kevin Herget.
The Milwaukee Brewers Could Trade Devin Williams to the Baltimore Orioles for Coby Mayo
Last season, the Brewers used the players they got from trading Burnes to the Orioles to help propel them to continued regular season success. Joey Ortiz, playing primarily third base despite being a shortstop by trade, hit .239/.329/.398 with 11 home runs, 60 RBI, and 11 stolen bases as a rookie playing out of position. DL Hall struggled early in the season before spending a good portion of the season on the injured list. He went 1-2 with a 1.61 WHIP.
Once the Brewers moved him to the bullpen, however, he seemed to have more consistent success. He did not allow a run in his final three appearances of the season.
Since the Brewers are likely to lose Adames in free agency, and because they do not have a long-term answer at first base (Rhys Hoskins did pick up his player option), they have multiple needs on the infield.
Deesha Thosar of Fox Sports suggests that Milwaukee could answer at least one of these questions with another trade involving the Orioles:
“It seems more and more likely that this will be the winter Milwaukee trades closer Devin Williams, as he’s set to enter free agency next offseason and the Brewers are not expected to extend him. Dangling a star pitcher like Williams in front of contenders that need bullpen help should net the Brewers a big return, so perhaps they could aim to land Orioles third base prospect Coby Mayo, who has a ton of upside but has been somewhat held back by Baltimore’s influx of infielders.”
Coby Mayo is a six-foot-five 22-year-old first/third baseman who is the top prospect in Baltimore’s minor league system. He made his Major League debut last season in a brief call-up with the Orioles, but only appeared in 17 Big League games.
Down in the minors, though, Mayo slugged the ball. He hit .293/.372/.592 with 25 home runs and 73 RBI. In 2023, splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A, he hit .290/.410/.564 with 29 home runs and 99 RBI.
As Thosar points out, Mayo does not have a clear-cut path to the Majors in Baltimore because of their already-talented infield. This could make him available in potential trades, and since the Orioles’ bullpen needs a serious overhaul, a trade with the Brewers is certainly possible.
If this trade were to happen, Milwaukee could move Ortiz to shortstop and, as they did with so many positions in 2024, start a young player at third. Mayo, a right-handed hitter, could see his power translate well at American Family Field as well.
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