Devin Williams, the Yankees’ struggling reliever, temporarily has been removed from the team’s closer role, manager Aaron Boone said Sunday in advance of his New York’s doubleheader with the Toronto Blue Jays.
“For right now, I’m going to take him out of that role,” Boone said of Williams, who has an 11.25 ERA in 10 games and has surrendered 10 earned runs in his first season in New York.
A two-time All-Star and two-time National League Trevor Hoffman Award winner, Williams was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in December for Nestor Cortes and infield prospect Caleb Durbin.
Luke Weaver, who became the Yankees closer in the final month of last season, will receive the majority of the reps in the ninth inning in place of Williams.
Williams’ latest troubles occurred on Friday. The Blue Jays scored three runs in the ninth inning of a 4-2 victory over the Yankees.
Alejandro Kirk hit a two-run double off Williams, who fell behind each of the three hitters he faced without getting an out.
Kirk’s hit gave Williams his first blown save, though the right-hander has been shaky this season and was pulled from a non-save chance on April 9 in Detroit.
Williams, 30, is 27-12 with 72 saves and a 2.14 ERA in 251 career relief appearances with the Brewers and Yankees.
