Yankees Pitcher Luke Weaver Praises Devin Williams After Closer Transition

NEW YORK, NY — The New York Yankees’ transition from Devin Williams to Luke Weaver as the team’s closer has been surprisingly smooth. After Williams was reassigned last month, worries about locker room tensions arose. However, Weaver praised Williams following his impressive performance in a series sweep over the Texas Rangers.

“Devin’s the man. He is obviously one of the best in the game,” Weaver said in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. He emphasized the importance of minimizing mistakes and acknowledged the pressures that come with closing duties.

In the current 2025 season, Weaver has excelled in the closing role, recording a remarkable 0.40 ERA over 22.2 innings pitched. He also served as the closer for the latter part of the 2024 season, achieving a 2.89 ERA. Weaver’s acknowledgment of Williams speaks to the respect players have for each other, particularly when roles change.

Williams was demoted from the closing position after a disappointing outing against the Toronto Blue Jays in April, where his performance led to a loss. Despite his reassignment, Williams remains unfazed. “It doesn’t matter right now,” he stated in a recent interview.

Weaver showed continued support for Williams, stating, “I certainly wasn’t worried about him for one second.” He noted that Williams is regaining his rhythm and controlling his game effectively.

As the Yankees lead the American League East, the positive relationship between Weaver and Williams highlights the importance of teamwork. The Yankees may consider bolstering their bullpen further before the July trade deadline. Analyst Derek Levandowski of Pinstripe Territory mentioned Orioles closer Félix Bautista as a potential target for New York.

Bautista, recovering from Tommy John surgery, currently has a shaky 4.30 ERA this season but was impressive in 2023 with a 1.48 ERA. If the Yankees pursue Bautista, they might need to exchange top prospects to secure the deal.