The Blue Jays need an elite closer. The answer is obvious.
If the Toronto Blue Jays are as serious as they say about revamping their bullpen, Devin Williams is the answer as their closer in 2025.
Although he's coming off an injury-shortened 2024 season, there is little doubt that Williams is an elite closer.
Upon his mid-season return from a back injury, Williams looked every bit as dominant as he did in his rookie of the year campaign in 2020, his All-Star 2022 and 2023 campaigns.
Over 21 1/3 innings, the righty pitched to a 1.25 ERA and 2.31 SIERA, striking out 38 of the 88 batters he faced.
As he enters his age 30 season, his career 1.83 ERA, 39.4% strikeout rate, and 68 saves in 78 chances tell you everything you need to know about why he could be such a valuable trade chip for the Milwaukee Brewers this off season.
In October, Brewers general manager Matt� Arnold told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com that he had been «open-minded» about potentially trading Williams.
He made similar comments in November, saying, «Certainly we have to be open to those types of things, but I think he makes our team better»
The Blue Jays and Brewers have had a good trading relationship when it comes to pitchers for position players.
The Marco Estrada trade for Adam Lind in 2014 comes to mind and if I remember right Blue Jays fans were not thrilled about it, and once again Alex Anthopolous proved us wrong.
Another trade which took place under the Ross Atkins era with the Brewers was Rowdy Tellez for Trevor Richards and Bowden Francis.
Again Blue Jays fans were not happy about this trade but I think they're liking it now, especially after the historic second half Francis had in 2024.
With all the infield prospects the Blue Jays have now it is not out of the question that these two teams cannot help each other out once again.
After all, Milwaukee has earned a reputation for trading star pitchers at least one year before they reach free agency.
Back when Arnold worked under�former president of baseball operations David Stearns, they dealt closer Josh Hader to the Padres at the deadline for prospects.
More recently they dealt elite starter Corbin Burnes to the Orioles, again for prospects.
Thanks to an excellent pitching development pipeline, the team has managed to stay competitive despite these trades.
It would hardly be surprising if Devin Williams were wearing a different uniform come Opening Day 2025.
The Blue Jays and Brewers have always had a good trading relationship no matter who is a the helm as general manager.
In my mind Ross Atkins has an opportunity to significantly improve the Blue Jays bullpen if he can acquire an elite closer like Devin Williams.
From 2021-23, the Blue Jays had one of the better closers in baseball in Canadian righty Jordan Romano.
However, things quickly tumbled downhill for Romano in 2024, and the rest of Toronto's relief corps followed suit.
No AL bullpen had a worse ERA, a higher home run rate, or a lower strikeout rate.
The Blue Jays were considering signing Holmes (as a reliever) before he ultimately landed with the Mets.
Adding Williams would go a long way to help revamp one of the worst bullpens in the league, especially from a Brewers front office who is open to moving him.
