MLB insider suggests alternative Brewers’ plan for Devin Williams this offseason

From the beginning of the offseason, it has felt like the Milwaukee Brewers were all but destined to trade Devin Williams before the 2025 season. Williams is set to make real money next season at a projected $8.4 million according to Spotrac and given the Brewers' long-standing reputation of trading guys when they get expensive, a move just made a bit too much sense.

The Brewers' own front office even hinted that such a trade was extremely possible this offseason and that reflected the team's financial realities this offseason. There is a reason why there has been little to no talk of reuniting with Willy Adames. Milwaukee simply doesn't have the financial flexibility to bring Adames back and following that logic, trading Williams away would free up a significant amount of payroll to bolster the rest of the budget-conscious Brewers' roster.

However, losing Williams for the start of 2025 may not be as sure a thing as we thought. Not only has Brewers GM Matt Arnold suggested that Milwaukee could keep Williams this offseason previously, but MLB insider Jon Heyman just provided an update that the the Brewers could hang on to Williams and then explore trading him at the trade deadline instead.

Brewers' stance on a Devin Williams trade could end up being the best of both worlds

The elephant in the room when it comes to a Williams trade is that Milwaukee still wants to contend in 2025 and they are a strictly better team with a healthy Williams anchoring their bullpen. If the team is already losing Adames, isn't expected to make an offseason splash, and trades Williams away, one wonders how contention for another division title is even feasible even in a division as weak as the NL Central.

Assuming the reports are correct, Milwaukee could have their cake and eat it, too. By holding out on a Williams trade this offseason except if a team blows them away with a trade offer, the Brewers could keep their closer to start the season and see how things go. If Milwaukee is making another strong run in the first half of 2025, Milwaukee could keep Williams similar to what they did with Adames and just try to run it back again. If they fall out of contention, they are likely to be able to come close to matching what they could get now for Williams right now at the trade deadline.

Such a gambit does make a lot of assumptions and doesn't come without some risk. In the worst case scenario, the Brewers don't perform well out of the gate and Williams gets hurt again which would completely torpedo his trade value. In a less catastrophic scenario, there is no guarantee that Williams will pitch like a top reliever again in 2025 as he struggled in the playoffs and bullpen arms are among the most volatile stocks in the game of baseball.

Perhaps all of this chatter of keeping Williams is actually a product of an increasingly crowded market for high leverage relievers this offseason with Ryan Helsey, Kyle Finnegan, Tanner Scott, Carlos Estevez, and Ryan Pressly all available at varying price points. By waiting, the Brewers could move Williams in a market that has some more urgency and less competition. Whether or not that works out remains to be seen.

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