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Tigers manager AJ Hinch will have pitching decisions to make this October.
Major League Baseball’s hot stove season is finally here. Across the league, eligible players can sign wherever they choose if the price is right. Players rarely sign before the calendar turns to December, but it’s fun to speculate which players may be landing in different threads before the 2026 season. The New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers are both expected to be players in the market this offseason, as both teams have key decisions to make about the roster.
For the New York Yankees, some of their key free agents include Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, and reliever Devin Williams. Williams was once thought to receive a massive contract extension after being traded to the Yankees, but a down 2025 campaign decreased his value tremendously. Should the Tigers think about signing Williams on a cheaper deal? A current Bleacher Report writer believes they should.
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Tigers Predicted to Sign Devin Williams
In a recent Bold Predictions piece by Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer, Devin Williams is predicted to sign with the Detroit Tigers on a one-year, $10 million deal:
“As Williams still struck out 34.7 percent of the batters he faced this year, getting swings and misses was clearly an area where he still excelled. The Tigers badly need someone like that in their bullpen, which finished last in the American League in strikeout rate this year.”
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty ImagesTigers manager AJ Hinch will have pitching decisions to make this October.
Devin Williams would find more success pitching at Comerica Park, which is much more favorable to pitchers than Yankee Stadium. He posted a 4.79 ERA in 67 appearances and struck out 90 batters. Before an injury-riddled 2024 season, Williams had three straight seasons of 55+ appearances, 85+ strikeouts, and an ERA lower than 2.50.
Being in New York just never seemed to be a good fit for Williams, and he blew his fair share of games, so it’s fair to assume the Yankees organization likely doesn’t want him back either. There’s no doubt several teams will be in on Williams, especially at a potentially discounted price. He has 86 saves in 308 appearances out of the bullpen.
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Why Devin Williams is a Good Fit for the Tigers?
As Rymer wrote, the Tigers finished last in the American League last season in strikeout rate. A team like Detroit, which is expected to compete for an AL Pennant in 2026, could absolutely afford to bring in a strikeout artist like Williams.
It would also, as Rymer indicated, just be a one-year deal. This allows Detroit to take a flyer on him and reassess his value after the season is over. If the two-time All-Star Williams has a bounceback season in a pitcher-friendly park (very likely), then the contract would look like a steal for Detroit.
Williams was being hit much harder in 2025, which may be the reason why he struggled. A 4.79 ERA is ugly, but there’s no doubting Williams’ stuff. He has a strong reputation as having one of the best changeups in MLB, and that’s what the Detroit Tigers would ultimately be committing to.
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