Dodgers blindsided by familiar foe as rumored trade target comes off the market

The Dodgers re-signed Blake Treinen to a two-year, $22 million deal on Sunday to retain most of their 2024 bullpen, but they haven't shown signs of stopping. After settling up with Treinen, reports suggested their interest in closers Devin Williams or Tanner Scott in their last years of club control despite having two sound closing options (Michael Kopech and Evan Phillips) on the roster.

Either they waited too long for Williams or their offer to the Brewers just wasn't good enough, because on Friday afternoon, Jeff Passan reported that the 2020 NL Rookie of the Year and two-time All-Star would be headed to the Yankees.

The return for Milwaukee includes starter Nestor Cortes and prospect Caleb Durbin, along with some cash. The Yankees just lost closer Clay Holmes to the Mets in free agency (where they'll try to turn him into a starter in Queens), but Williams is easily one of the best closers in baseball, so they can't be all that sad about Holmes' departure.

That still leaves Scott as a potential option for LA, but it does sting a little that the Yankees seemingly swooped in out of nowhere to steal Williams.

Dodgers lose out on star closer Devin Williams as Brewers make a trade with Yankees

Williams didn't pitch until late July this season due to stress fractures in his back, but he returned in top form. He pitched 21 2/3 innings for the Brewers, finishing 19 games out of 22 appearances and being credited with 14 saves for a 1.25 ERA. The Brewers declined his clup option for 2025 to send him back into arbitration eligibility for his last year before free agency, but he's expected to make $8.5 million.

The Dodgers don't really need a closer with Kopech and Phillips still on the roster, but they were willing to play fast and loose with bullpen configurations in 2024 and seem to be prepared to do so again in 2025. Their hesitation to just outright name Phillips the closer ahead of the 2024 season foreshadowed that a bit, but the number of pitching injuries they sustained throughout the year made it all the more necessary for their relievers to be adaptable.

If the Dodgers had gotten Williams, they probably wouldn't have hesitated to officially name him their closer, and they probably would've ended up giving him a contract extension before he could leave LA in free agency. The Yankees might now do the same, but if LA's still looking for a permanent closer at the end of 2025, they could have another shot at Williams.