With Devin Williams-Nestor Cortes swap, Yankees and Brewers both strengthen their pitching for 2025 WSOC TV [Video]

The post-Juan Soto pivot for the Yankees rolled on in spectacular fashion Friday, as New York reportedly acquired two-time All-Star Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for left-hander Nestor Cortes Jr. and infield prospect Caleb Durbin. As questions about Soto’s exit from the Bronx lingered following the superstar outfielder’s introductory news conference on Thursday in Queens, Brian Cashman and Co. plowed ahead in a crucial winter for the storied franchise and successfully landed one of the biggest names on the trade market in Williams.

Cortes and Williams share the unfortunate distinction of having allowed two of the more memorable home runs of this past postseason: Pete Alonso’s go-ahead blast in the decisive Game 3 of the wild-card series in Milwaukee (Williams) and Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the World Series in Los Angeles (Cortes). The heartbreaking homers were allowed under drastically different circumstances, with the all-world closer Williams trying to nail down …