Gabe Lacques, USA TODAYTue, December 2, 2025 at 2:59 AM UTC·1 min readThe reliever market is starting to heat up, and the latest maneuver signals a significant change for the New York Mets.
The Mets agreed to terms with two-time All-Star Devin Williams on a three-year contract, The Athletic reported, a sign the club is almost certainly moving on from stalwart Edwin Diaz.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWilliams, 31, was the 2020 NL Rookie of the Year and earned an NL reliever of the year nod with the Milwaukee Brewers, when he played for current Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns. After a trade to the New York Yankees, struggled for significant stretches and lost his closer job.
Yet with his trademark changeup and career marks of 14.1 strikeouts per nine and a 1.04 WHIP, Williams remains one of the game's elite relievers. And with a reported value of more than $50 million, the Mets' investment in Williams likely marks their major relief splash this winter.
Since 2000, future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols' 101.3 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) leads all players, with Alex Rodriguez tied for second ways back at 89.7 WAR. See the rest of the top 25.
2. Alex Rodriguez - 89.7
3. Adrian Beltre - 89.7
4. Mike Trout - 87.5
5. Justin Verlander - 82.2
6. Clayton Kershaw - 78.1
7. Mookie Betts - 75.2
8. Max Scherzer - 74.7
9. Zack Greinke - 72.4
10. Robinson Cano - 68.7
11. Miguel Cabrera - 67.2
12. Carlos Beltran - 65.1
13. Chase Utley - 64.6
14. Freddie Freeman - 64.2
15. Paul Goldschmidt - 63.8
16. Joey Votto - 63.6
17. Roy Halladay - 62.4
18. Aaron Judge - 62.3
19. CC Sabathia - 61.8
20. Manny Machado - 61.7
21. Ichiro Suzuki - 60
22. Mark Buehrle - 60
23. Barry Bonds - 59.1
24. Evan Longoria - 58.9
25. Chipper Jones - 58.31 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
Since 2000, future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols' 101.3 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) leads all players, with Alex Rodriguez tied for second ways back at 89.7 WAR. See the rest of the top 25.1 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
Since 2000, future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols' 101.3 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) leads all players, with Alex Rodriguez tied for second ways back at 89.7 WAR. See the rest of the top 25.2 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
2. Alex Rodriguez - 89.73 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
3. Adrian Beltre - 89.74 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
4. Mike Trout - 87.55 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
5. Justin Verlander - 82.26 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
6. Clayton Kershaw - 78.17 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
7. Mookie Betts - 75.28 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
8. Max Scherzer - 74.79 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
9. Zack Greinke - 72.410 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
10. Robinson Cano - 68.711 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
11. Miguel Cabrera - 67.212 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
12. Carlos Beltran - 65.113 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
13. Chase Utley - 64.614 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
14. Freddie Freeman - 64.215 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
15. Paul Goldschmidt - 63.816 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
16. Joey Votto - 63.617 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
17. Roy Halladay - 62.418 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
18. Aaron Judge - 62.319 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
19. CC Sabathia - 61.820 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
20. Manny Machado - 61.721 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
21. Ichiro Suzuki - 6022 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
22. Mark Buehrle - 6023 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
23. Barry Bonds - 59.124 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
24. Evan Longoria - 58.925 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
25. Chipper Jones - 58.3That means Diaz, who transitioned from volatile closer to folk hero, will likely move on. He opted out of the final two years of his five-year, $102 million deal with the Mets after posting his second All-Star campaign with the club.
Diaz should easily top Williams' guaranteed dollars on the open market, where the Los Angeles Dodgers and other top spenders are expected to vie for his services. He struck out 118 batters in 62 innings in his epic 2022 season, when his trumpet-fueled Citi Field entrance became a part of franchise lore.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mets land Devin Williams, signaling Edwin Diaz exit from Queens
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