Brewers may have perfect Devin Williams replacement available after recent non-tender

The Milwaukee Brewers boasted one of the game's best bullpens this past season while only receiving 21.2 innings of work from Devin Williams, their All-Star closer. Outside of Bryse Wilson and the recently non-tendered Hoby Milner, the vast majority of this 'pen is going to be returning for the 2025 campaign.

That is, if Williams doesn't end up getting moved via trade. The rumor mill has been churning since the very first day of the offseason that Williams is going to get too expensive for the Brewers and could find himself on the move.

The Brewers have a depressingly long history of moving on from players right before they become too expensive to be kept around. See their handling of Corbin Burnes and Josh Hader for recent examples of this happening. It seems that any day now Williams could join that group.

Jordan Romano could be Brewers' perfect Devin Williams replacement

Milner wasn't the only notable relief pitcher around the league that got non-tendered this past Friday. The Toronto Blue Jays elected not to tender a contract to Jordan Romano, their own All-Star closer. He is now on the open market and available for the takings. If the Brewers intend on moving Williams, Romano would be an excellent (and cheaper) option to close out games for the Crew.

The 2024 season for Romano was decimated by injuries. He made it into just 15 games by the time all was said and done, earning eight saves and allowing 10 runs on 16 hits in just 13.2 innings (6.59 ERA). The Blue Jays tried to get him rehabbed and ready for a late-season return, but his wonky elbow wouldn't cooperate and they elected to cut bait rather than wait around for him to get healthy.

Romano can get a pass for the ghastly results he posted in 2024. It's the two All-Star Games he made in the years prior that really catch the eye. He had been a rock-solid and durable closer that consistently ranked amongst the AL's best closers prior to his 2024 dud.

A trip over to Romano's Baseball Savant page shows that as recently as 2023 he was utterly dominant. If the Brewers can get confirmation that he's good to go for 2025, there's no reason they shouldn't be contacting his representation. The right-hander finished in the 86th percentile in Pitching Run Value, 90th in Chase % and 96th in Whiff %.

When Romano is "on", there are few closers who can shut down the opposition quite like him. With the Brewers looking to move an expensive contract off of their books, Romano would come cheaper and provide solid results out of the back end of their 'pen.

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