The Yankees are demoting closer Devin Williams ‘for now,’ manager Aaron Boone told reporters on Sunday.
Williams, who’s in his first season with the team after being acquired in an offseason trade with the Brewers, has a ghastly 11.25 ERA thus far and blew another save on Friday against the Blue Jays.
And Boone is now taking the pitcher out of the closer role, adding that Luke Weaver would ‘likely’ replace him.
‘He’s just going through it a little bit,’ Boone said, via the New York Post. ‘We think it’s best for everyone to pull him out of that role and start building that confidence.’
The 30-year-old has a 2.14 career ERA and is a two-time All-Star, but his start to life in New York has been nightmarish.
After Williams’ blown save on Friday, Boone said ‘we’ll see’ in regards to him remaining the closer, while the former Brewers star sounded downbeat.
Closer Devin Williams has struggled badly so far for the New York Yankees
Williams has a 11.25 ERA this season and has now been taken out of the closer role
‘Nothing is working right now,’ he said. ‘All I can do is continue to work.’
Boone added on Sunday that he would use ‘everyone’ in closing spots, though Weaver is set to get ‘a lot’ of chances there.
The Yankees parted with Nestor Cortes and Caleb Durbin to land Williams over the offseason.
He signed a one-year, $8.6million deal with the team.
Williams’ struggles have coincided with the Yankees going 2-4 in their last six contests, with their record dropping to 15-11.
The Yankees will host the Blue Jays for a doubleheader on Sunday after their matchup scheduled for Saturday was rained out.
