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Port St. Lucie Today
By the People, for the People
Devin Williams Confident in Himself as Mets' New Closer
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza says Williams will take over as closer to start spring training.
Published on Feb. 16, 2026
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Devin Williams, the Mets' new $51 million setup man, says he won't compare himself to former Mets closer Edwin Diaz, who left for the Dodgers. Williams is confident he can handle the pressure of being the Mets' new closer, a role manager Carlos Mendoza says he will take over at the start of spring training.
Why it matters
The Mets are looking to Williams to fill the void left by the departure of Diaz, one of the best closers in baseball over the past several seasons. Williams will face high expectations as he takes over the closer role for the first time in his career.
The details
Williams, who signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the Mets in December, says he won't compare himself to Diaz, the three-time All-Star who opted out of his Mets deal to sign with the Dodgers. "As far as comparing myself to somebody else, I'm not going to do that. I'm pretty good in my own right. I'm going to go out and be the best version of myself—that's good enough," Williams said. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza expressed confidence in Williams, saying "As of right now, yes" when asked if Williams will be the team's closer to start spring training. Williams established himself as one of the best closers in MLB during his six years with the Brewers, but struggled after being traded to the Yankees last season.
- Devin Williams signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the Mets in early December 2025.
- Williams spoke to SNY at the Mets' spring training facility in Port St. Lucie, Florida on Sunday, February 16, 2026.
The players
Devin Williams
A 31-year-old relief pitcher who signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the New York Mets in December 2025 to be their new setup man and closer.
Edwin Diaz
The former Mets closer who opted out of his contract to sign a three-year, $69 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Carlos Mendoza
The manager of the New York Mets who expressed confidence that Devin Williams will take over as the team's closer to start the 2026 spring training.
What they’re saying
“As far as comparing myself to somebody else, I'm not going to do that. I'm pretty good in my own right. I'm going to go out and be the best version of myself—that's good enough.”
— Devin Williams (SNY)
“As of right now, yes. We had conversations with a lot of the guys, and we signed him. We didn't know which way it was going to go. He's used to pitching high leverage. If you're asking me right now, I would say yes.”
— Carlos Mendoza, Mets Manager (SNY)
What’s next
The Mets will monitor Devin Williams' performance closely during spring training to confirm he is ready to take over as the team's closer to start the 2026 season.
The takeaway
The Mets are entrusting Devin Williams to fill the void left by the departure of elite closer Edwin Diaz, showing their confidence in Williams' ability to be the team's new shutdown reliever despite his struggles last season with the Yankees.
