Is it because of WS's first walk-off bases loaded? A left-hander with a mustache that's packed after a career high...Yankees to close out 30SV

Dec 14, 2024

Yankees Nester Cortes allows Freddie Freeman to hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning in Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on October 26 (Korea time). AP Yonhap News

Miladelphia Brewers Devin Williams was traded to the New York Yankees. AP Yonhap News

The New York Yankees have reinforced a clear closer.

The Yankees acquired Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams on the 14th (Korea time). Left-hander Nestor Cortes, infielder Caleb Durbin, and cash handed over to Milwaukee.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said of Williams, `Huge fastballs and devastating changeups are his main weapons. He has maintained consistency for a long time by inducing missed hits, swings, and ground balls. I'm sure we're not the only ones who wanted him. He certainly has nothing to fear, and if you're afraid of a big stage, you can't do that."

After the postseason, Milwaukee gave up Williams' $10.5 million club option next year and paid $250,000 in buyouts. Williams missed half of his regular schedule due to injuries this season and suffered a come-from-behind loss by losing four runs, including a come-from-behind three-run shot by Pete Alonso in the top of the ninth inning with a 2-0 lead in Game 3 of the wild-card series against the New York Mets.

In other words, Milwaukee seems to have decided that it would be a waste to give $10.5 million next year. However, through this trade, Williams will spend next year's FA season with the Yankees with a winning record. It remains to be seen whether he will go through a salary adjustment process with the Yankees or sign an extension contract.

데빈 윌리엄스. AP Yonhap News

For the Yankees, Clay Holmes, who made 30 saves at the end of this year, became an FA and moved to the Mets for three years and $38 million, and reinforcing the bullpen was also an important task. The Yankees failed to achieve their primary goal when Juan Soto signed with the Mets on the 9th, but immediately after that, they hired top-class starter Max Fried for eight years and $218 million and succeeded in reinforcing the finish on the day.

Williams was listed as injured at the end of the exhibition game ahead of this season due to a 'Back stress fracture'. Williams returned on July 29 after four months of rehabilitation and pitched 21 ⅔ innings in 22 games, marking one win, 14 saves, one Blon save, an ERA of 1.25, 11 walks, 38 strikeouts, WHIP of 0.97 and a hit rate of 0.133 to show off his top finish.

Williams, who made his major league debut in 2019, had a career high in 2023 with 36 saves and a 1.93 ERA, and has 65 saves and a 1.66 ERA in the last three years in charge of finishing. This year's fastball speed shot a maximum of 97.8 miles and an average of 94.7 miles, while the main weapon, Change-Up, had a hit rate of 0.162 and a swing rate of 48.8%.

New York Yankees Nestor Cortes will wear his Milwaukee uniform. AP Yonhap News

Cortes, who spent five seasons with the Yankees and showed solid growth as a starting pitcher, will move on to his new baseball life in Milwaukee. Cortes pitched 174 ⅓ innings in 31 appearances this season, going 9-10 with a 3.77 ERA. He passed the regular innings for the first time in his life.

At the time of Fried's recruitment, the number of complete starters increased to seven, and it was predicted that Klaas Schmidt would be used as a trade card, but Cortes eventually became cheaper.

Cortes has a painful memory of being hit by Freddie Freeman after throwing a 92.5-mile fastball toward his body and hitting a walk-off grand slam over the right fence in the bottom of the 10th inning with one out and runners on first and second base with a 3-2 lead in Game 1 of the World Series. He was the scapegoat for the first walk-off bases-loaded walk-off in World Series history.

Meanwhile, the Yankees negotiated the trade of Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker, but it was not made because they demanded Lewis Hill, who was named AL Rookie of the Year this year. Tucker was traded to the Chicago Cubs through a 1-on-3 trade.

General manager Cashman said "I'm glad Tucker left the AL anyway. The Chicago Cubs got a big player. I've talked a lot with Houston, and I've talked to other teams about starting players" expressed his feelings.

jhno@sportschosun.com