As the Philadelphia Phillies explore ways to strengthen their bullpen this offseason, a possible trade deal could bring Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams to Philadelphia in exchange for the beloved second baseman Bryson Stott.
With relievers Carlos Estevez and Jeff Hoffman now free agents, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is actively seeking bullpen upgrades.
The Brewers recently declined Williams’ $10.5 million club option for 2025, mainly as a cost-saving move. Williams remains under Milwaukee’s control, with Spotrac estimating he’ll earn around $8.4 million next season.
Known for his consistent dominance, Williams has earned two Reliever of the Year awards and recorded an impressive 7.6 WAR and 1.70 ERA since 2020—second only to Emmanuel Clase among qualified relievers. Despite being limited to 21 2/3 innings due to an injury in 2024, he posted a stellar 1.25 ERA with 38 strikeouts.
Dombrowski hinted at potential trades, remarking:
“I mean, the reality is, we have a lot of good players. I think we just have to be open-minded to exploring what’s out there for us, talk to some clubs and see what ends up happening. That process hasn’t started. Sometimes you trade good players for good players.”
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Philadelphia’s bullpen, which had a 3.94 ERA and blew 19 of 56 save chances last season, would benefit immensely from Williams’ addition.
A proposed one-for-one trade would send Stott to Milwaukee. Known for his defensive skills, Stott has been a Gold Glove finalist the past two seasons and holds a .695 OPS across his 426 games with the Phillies since debuting in 2022.
Adding Williams would provide Philadelphia with a much-needed elite closer, solidifying their bullpen and enhancing their postseason potential.
