The Los Angeles Dodgers have been in the market for bullpen help with Devin Williams as one of their primary targets before he was traded to the New York Yankees.
The Dodgers held trade discussions with the Milwaukee Brewers and talks were centered around Gavin Lux and Hunter Feduccia.
Ultimately, the Brewers received Caleb Durbin and Nestor Cortes Jr. from the Yankees.
While the Dodgers fell short of acquiring the star relief pitcher, during the process, Williams had a belief he would be going to L.A. as the Brewers shared updates with him on their negotiations.
“I kind of thought I’d be going to L.A.,” Williams said. “That was what I was being told. The Yankees snuck in there under the table and got the deal done.”
The Yankees’ willingness to include both a starting pitcher in Cortes and a middle infielder in Durbin likely pushed them over the top.
The Brewers were in need of middle infield help with the departure of Willy Adames to the San Francisco Giants, so Lux and Durbin were targets in talks.
For the Dodgers to match or beat the Yankees offer, they likely would have needed to include a pitcher such as Tony Gonsolin.
Williams is entering the final year team control, which motivated the Brewers to trade him as a long-term extension was not in the cards.
He was limited to just 21.2 innings due to a stress fracture in his back to start the year, but he finished out the season with a 1.25 ERA, 2.06 FIP and 0.97 WHIP with a staggering 43.2% strikeout rate and 12.5% walk rate.
Williams has pitched three consecutive seasons with an ERA below 1.95, and he’s had an ERA below 2.50 for five consecutive seasons, tossing 222 in that time frame.
Dodgers moved on to Tanner Scott?
The Dodgers have also checked in on Tanner Scott, the top free agent reliever available, and there’s mutual interest between the two sides.
The 30-year-old was traded to the San Diego Padres at last year’s deadline from the Miami Marlins.
The left-hander posted a 1.75 ERA, 2.92 FIP and 1.13 WHIP across 72 innings while striking out 28.6% of hitters and walking 12.2%.
He is expected to land a four-year deal with an average annual value of roughly $15 million.
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