4 candidates to be the Brewers' 2025 closer if they decide to trade Devin Williams

The Milwaukee Brewers are once again approaching a possible change at the closer position. For years, the Brewers have had a dominant back end of the bullpen led by an elite closer. This run of success started with Jeremy Jeffress and Corey Knebel locking things down, then turning it over to Josh Hader, then to Devin Williams.

Now, we may be approaching the end of the Devin Williams era and the start of a new one in the 9th inning in Milwaukee. Williams is entering his final season of team control in 2025 before reaching free agency. At his end of season press conference, GM Matt Arnold hinted at the possibility of a Williams trade this offseason.

Should a Williams trade come to pass, the Brewers will have plenty of options to take over in the 9th inning in 2025.

Candidates for the Brewers' closer if/when Milwaukee trades Devin Williams

Trevor Megill

The top option to replace Williams is the guy who took possession of the closer's role while Williams was hurt the first half of the year, Trevor Megill. Megill racked up 21 saves this season with a 2.72 ERA. In Williams' absence, the Brewers essentially had an open competition to earn that closer's spot. Megill won it in 2024 and he could very well win it again.

Megill has the blazing fastball, averaging 99.8 MPH on his four-seamer, and the temperament to serve as closer. The moment never becomes too big for him and that's exactly what you want. He came up big in his postseason opportunities as well.

If Williams ends up getting traded this winter, Megill is going to be the early favorite to get the 9th inning opportunities in 2025. However, that doesn't mean the Brewers don't have other capable pitchers who can handle the role and while Megill did extremely well, he's not the dominant type of arm that will preclude any other competition for that 9th inning role.

Joel Payamps

Joel Payamps had a quietly great second half as manager Pat Murphy has said. The numbers back it up. After the All Star Break, Payamps pitched to just a 1.11 ERA in 28 appearances. The first half was not very good, but Payamps' resurgence earned him plenty of trust from Murphy and plenty of high leverage situations.

That gives Payamps a boost heading into 2025 where he could very well challenge Megill for that closer's role. He's a veteran that's been a big piece of this bullpen ever since coming over in the William Contreras trade.

Payamps was also part of the group that was competing for saves in the first half with Williams out, tallying six saves on the year.

Abner Uribe

Another candidate that's long been considered a future closer, Abner Uribe could return in time to take the job in 2025. Uribe dealt with some more command problems this year, then started a fight with the Rays, was suspended and demoted to Triple-A, where he injured his knee and underwent season ending surgery. Uribe has recovered nicely and is working in Arizona, where he should have a regular offseason and enter spring training fully healthy.

Uribe will once again find himself in the bullpen mix because of his excellent raw stuff, including a blazing triple-digit fastball. If he can reign in his command just a little bit more, Uribe can be an elite 9th inning arm. He'll get some of those opportunities in 2025.

Jacob Misiorowski

The Brewers top pitching prospect, Jacob Misiorowski, could easily be the Crew's next closer. After a promotion to Triple-A this year, Misiorowski converted from the rotation to the bullpen in preparation for his likely role on the big league club in 2024. He never was called up, but Misiorowski thrived out of the bullpen.

At his end of season press conference, Matt Arnold said the Brewers were still undecided on his Misiorowski would stay in the bullpen or return to the starting rotation.

If Misiorowski returns to starting, he'd almost certainly need more time in the minor leagues. As a bullpen arm, he could likely make the Opening Day roster. Not only could he make the roster, his stuff is so good he could very quickly become the Brewers closer.

Murphy may not want to give that role to a rookie making his MLB debut right out of the gate, but it's not out of the realm of possibility that he earns trust and higher leverage opportunities very quickly. If one of the above candidates struggle at all in the role, the Brewers could quickly turn to their talented young right hander.