4 possible dark horse, non-Phillies trades matches if Brewers trade Devin Williams

At this point, it feels like an inevitability that the Milwaukee Brewers will move on from Devin Williams before he officially hits free agency. The right-hander is under contract for the 2025 campaign, but will hit the open market at it's conclusion.

Williams, 30, has turned himself into one of the game's best closers since first breaking into the league back in 2019. The Brewers and their fans have been spoiled when it comes to closers, as Williams was available to immediately replace Josh Hader when he was sent packing to the Padres.

In both cases, the player was getting too expensive for the Brewers' liking and there wasn't a way they'd be locked up to a long-term contract. Instead, they become trade bait.

The Philadelphia Phillies are a team we've identified as one that could use Williams, with power-hitting third baseman Alec Bohm being a prime candidate to come back to the Crew in a potential trade. Outside of the Phillies, there are more around the league that could use Williams in the back-end of their bullpens. Let's check out some non-Phillies teams that would be ideal fits in an offseason trade.

4 more ideal trade fits for the Brewers and Devin Williams

Kansas City Royals

The Royals have had so much success building super-bullpens in the not-so-distant past, but they're a piece or two short of having one right now. The club is the pure definition of a "playoff hopeful" and their division rival Guardians have a super-bullpen of their own and Kansas City needs to keep up.

After going 86-76 and being surprise contenders this past season, the Royals need to keep pushing and capitalizing on their window right now. They've already re-signed Michael Wacha and acquired Jonathan India from the Reds, so this winter is off to a good start.

Now they just need a shut-down closer. Their extensive trade history with the Brewers suggests that there's a deal to be made here.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Anytime the Dodgers have a need around their roster, they are guaranteed to have the resources to fill it properly. The reigning World Champions don't have very many ways they need to upgrade their roster this offseason, but a look at their depth chart suggests they don't have a true closer.

Michael Kopech and Evan Phillips both earned over 15 saves this past season, but bringing Williams into the fold would allow each of the other two to fill the "stopper" roles in the Dodgers' bullpen. L.A. has the prospect depth needed to pull off a trade and the Brewers could even target someone who's big-league ready like Wisconsinite Gavin Lux in talks.

New York Yankees

The other club that made it all the way to the World Series this year is another one without a proven closer at the back-end of their 'pen. Journeyman Luke Weaver became the Yankees' closer in the postseason and could conceivably take that role back come 2025, but he may be better suited as a multi-inning role-player that can bounce around between assignments in the bullpen.

Like the Dodgers, the Yankees easily have the pieces needed to land someone like Williams. If they have interest, the Brewers would have very little difficulty looking through their farm system and finding pieces that catch their eye.

Toronto Blue Jays

The Royals and Blue Jays are wild-cards here, because they have a serious need but don't quite have the pieces to pull off a trade like the Dodgers and/or Yankees do. However, the Blue Jays have arguably the biggest need for a shut-down relief pitcher out of any team around the league.

After non-tendering both Jordan Romano and Dillon Tate, Toronto is going to rely on Chad Green and Erik Swanson, two non-closers, to man the eighth and/or ninth innings in 2025. Williams would give the Blue Jays a significant upgrade in the back-end of the pen, but the biggest problem here is that Toronto's farm system is barren and the Brewers may have a tough time finding pieces the Blue Jays' front office is willing to part with. There's simply not much there.