A new rumor from the MLB general manager meetings claims that the Cincinnati Reds are among a dozen teams pursuing a top closer in free agency. One that Cincy fans are very familiar with.
With some help from a collapse by the New York Mets in September, the Reds finally returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Sure, they were smashed by the eventual champion Los Angeles Dodgers in two Wild Card games, but there were a lot of positives to take away from the 2025 campaign—the first with new manager Terry Francona.
After the legendary manager was hired, there were rumblings that the club would look to make some big additions to get him more impact talent. However, in the end, the Reds didn’t make any big-name additions before the season. But heading into the offseason, there are signs the front office is more willing to invest in a team clearly on the rise.
The first major example comes in a new report from The Athletic’s Will Sammon. According to the MLB insider, the Reds are actually among the 12 teams that have shown early interest in signing former Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams.
Devin Williams creating big buzz at MLB GM meetings?
In his first, and likely only, season in New York with the Yankees this year, he posted a 4.79 ERA and was actually demoted from the closing role after a few months. However, even in a down year, he had a 2.68 FIP and 13.1 strikeouts per nine innings. There is a very real possibility that the 31-year-old is still an elite talent and 2025 was an outlier.
It seems that is what he and many at the MLB GM meetings believe as well. “As far as my stuff, I felt it was as good (as), if not better than, it has been in years past,” Williams told The Athletic.
- Devin Williams stats: 18 saves, 4.79 ERA, 1.129 WHIP, 90 strikeouts, 25 walks, 62.0 innings
“He should be viewed as someone who can be an elite option,” a high-ranking NL club official also told the outlet about the two-time All-Star.
Reds fans are very familiar with Williams and how dominant he can be. Before his rough showing in 2025, he posted three straight seasons with sub-2.00 ERAs. The biggest issue with him at that time was staying on the field. But if teams around the game still see him as a top talent on the market, that could drive up the asking price. Especially with the Dodgers reportedly in hot pursuit, and “mutual interest” from Williams.
