DALLAS – The trade buzz surrounding Devin Williams, the ace closer from the Milwaukee Brewers, is palpable, with a staggering number of clubs—at least ten—expressing keen interest, according to sources within the league.
Speculation swirls that Williams could be dispatched as early as this week, though a more strategic trade later in the winter appears likely. A prolonged evaluation of offers may benefit the Brewers, especially as they await the fallout from the free agency of premier relievers like Tanner Scott and Jeff Hoffman—teams left wanting could soon find themselves scrambling for bullpen reinforcements.
Among the eager suitors are the Los Angeles Dodgers and the storied New York Yankees, both of whom are keenly eyeing Williams, a two-time recipient of the coveted Trevor Hoffman Award, emblematic of the National League’s finest reliever. Even mid-tier teams such as the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers could find a pathway to acquire him, not to mention unexpected contenders like the Los Angeles Angels.
At 30, Williams is forecasted to earn a substantial $7.7 million in his final arbitration year before hitting the open market. However, the Brewers are operating under apparent financial constraints this offseason, evidenced by their decision to non-tender Hoby Milner (expected to earn $2.7 million) and to decline Colin Rea’s $5.5 million option. The only viable route for Milwaukee to free up meaningful payroll would be the offloading of either Williams or first baseman Rhys Hoskins, who is set to rake in $18 million alongside a mutual option for another $18 million in 2026.
There’s a pressing need for the Brewers to bolster their starting rotation and possibly secure an additional infielder. With the departure of Willy Adames to free agency, the Brewers might need to reposition Joey Ortiz from third base to shortstop. Alternatively, they could shift Brice Turang from second base to fill the shortstop role, necessitating another infielder’s addition.
While retaining Williams until summer could be an option, the complexities of a midseason trade may echo the team’s past experiences—particularly the ill-timed deal of Josh Hader during a playoff push that culminated in missing the postseason. For a smooth transaction at the trade deadline, it would be beneficial for the Brewers to be definitively out of contention.
In Baltimore, the Orioles have fulfilled their quest for a right-handed hitting outfielder by snagging Tyler O’Neill, as well as bolstering their backup catching situation with Gary Sánchez. However, these acquisitions left little impact, especially given O’Neill’s task of replacing Anthony Santander, who belted 44 homers last season. The larger mystery lurks in their hunt for a front-line starter.
Though the Orioles are not leading the chase for Garrett Crochet, according to informed sources, they’re hesitant to part with a draft pick for other free agents who have received qualifying offers—namely Max Fried, Sean Manaea, and Nick Pivetta. Additionally, it seems that they may be outbid for their own standout, Corbin Burnes.
Now the question looms: which starter will the Orioles pursue next? Nathan Eovaldi and Jack Flaherty are among those considered, with a trade potentially opening yet another avenue for enhancement. Their standing in the AL East remains robust, especially with the Yankees’ loss of Juan Soto. Still, the competitive window for the Orioles won’t remain ajar indefinitely.
With superstar shortstop Gunnar Henderson under club control for four more seasons, and the prospect of extending catcher Adley Rutschman, the looming question surrounds Henderson’s fate. Represented by Scott Boras, known for having his clients, like Soto, traverse through free agency to curate their market value by leveraging a year like an unprecedented age 28 season.
Meanwhile, as the Texas Rangers grapple with prospective local media revenue issues, their enthusiasm for pursuing top-tier pitchers remains undeterred.
Re-signing Eovaldi continues to top their priority list, while simultaneously engaging prospective starters like Fried, keeping avenues open in case financial flexibility emerges.
Yet, the odds of significant financial movement occurring before Fried’s decision seem slim, with the Rangers standing as the only team without clarity regarding their local TV rights for the upcoming season. This follows the termination of their partnership with the Diamond Sports Group, as they embark on initiating their own regional sports network.
On another front, the Athletics have inked free-agent right-hander Luis Severino to a hefty three-year, $67 million deal, yet their pursuit of another starter continues, according to informed sources. If they secure another free agent, they’ll likely target a veteran of lesser stature—perhaps someone from the likes of Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson, or Andrew Heaney—provided they are amenable to a stint in Sacramento.
The A’s face a pressing need to elevate their payroll ahead of 2025 to avoid escalating grievances from the MLB Players Association. However, it rests uncertain whether they will reach the projected $130 to $150 million range ahead of their move to Las Vegas slated for 2028. The A’s intend to spend the next three seasons in Sacramento.
Third base emerges as another area of urgent focus for the A’s. Players like Alec Bohm of the Philadelphia Phillies and Brett Baty from the New York Mets have surfaced as trade options. Additionally, internal candidates such as Brett Harris, Max Schuemann, and top prospect Max Muncy, their 2021 first-round pick, are also under consideration.
Shifting the focus to the Miami Marlins, sources unveiled that they are open to trading promising southpaw Jesús Luzardo. The interest is certainly brewing, as MLB Network’s Jon Morosi indicated.
Luzardo, now 27, stands to draw a noteworthy $6 million in arbitration—his status making him second behind Sandy Alcantara as the highest-paid Marlin.
Nevertheless, akin to Alcantara, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, Luzardo’s trade value could escalate if he can reaffirm his health status. Having missed the latter portion of last season due to a lumbar stress reaction after June 16, the timeline for his recovery is crucial.
With two seasons of club control ahead for Luzardo, the Marlins might be poised to make a monumental decision soon.
(Top photo of Devin Williams: Chris Bernacchi / Diamond Images via Getty Images)
