Devin Williams' age similarity scores won't have NY Mets fans asking for thirds

New York Mets rumors linking them to free agent Devin Williams have been one of the more prevalent in recent days. The thought of pairing him alongside Edwin Diaz as a closer is tantalizing even if you’re a bit scared off by how Williams pitched last year for the New York Yankees.

With free agents, it’s about what you can give and not what you just did offer. Williams is someone David Stearns knows well and despite the poor year in the Bronx, he is a sought-after commodity.

Mets fans are rightfully torn as to the fit. Anyone coming off of a poor season feels like a buy-low candidate even if they truly aren’t, which seems to be the case with Williams. If you need any convincing, his recent career comps will scare you off.

Devin Williams’ recent career comps at age 27 and 29 compare close to two Mets disasters

According to Baseball-Reference, Williams’ career most compared to Dellin Betances at age 27. At age 29, which took him through the 2024 season, Williams compares to Ryan Helsley.

Williams is already 31, the age Betances last pitched for the Yankees. He’d pitch only 12.2 innings for the Mets in parts of two seasons. His season-ending injury for the 2019 Yankees is something he never seemed to overcome as new injuries followed him during his Mets tenure. He wasn’t even effective, pitching to a 7.82 ERA in those dozen-plus innings.

Helsley, also 31, just wrapped up a poor season made worse after getting traded to the Mets. Similar to Williams in that he had a brief time as a successful closer, we can only take these comparisons with a grain of salt as all pitchers are designed differently. However, the sign does exist to tell us the Mets may be buying into yet another high-leverage reliever who could quickly flame out.

As tantalizing as it is to build a super bullpen for the coming season, it's not entirely realistic without sacrifices in other places. Williams is in demand despite his down year with the Yankees. The Mets can't confidently sell to the fans they'd be willing to let Edwin Diaz walk away in favor of a less experienced closer who lost his job in the same city a few months ago. There are reasons beyond Williams' age similarity scores to avoid him. But if you were on the fence, this pushes you onto one side.