Welcome to a series of articles that will look at the various free agents who will be hitting the market once the World Series is over. We will take a look if the player the Tigers may target would be an ideal fit and why and why not. 

RHP Devin Williams

The Tigers traded for several arms to plug the back end of the bullpen at the trade deadline. Of the arms that performed the best, Kyle Finnegan was the one who stood out but as Tigers fans know, you can never have enough arms and the one thing the Tigers really lacked, a power arm that could get swings and misses. 

According to FanGraphs, the Tigers bullpen had the worst K per 9 at 7.71 and ranked 24th as far as fWAR goes at 1.4.That deficiency alone makes Devin Williams, the two-time All-Star whose signature “Airbender” changeup remains elite, an intriguing option.

Why He’s a Fit

Williams would immediately give the Tigers something missing from their current relief corps: a dominant swing-and-miss weapon. Statcast data from 2025 shows that his changeup remains one of baseball’s most unhittable pitches, holding opponents to a .198 xBA and .258 xwOBA.

Even though his ERA rose to 4.79, his 3.04 xERA indicates far better underlying performance. His pitch shapes back that up — the changeup averages 18 inches of horizontal movement, and his 95 mph fastball still carries strong vertical ride.

For a bullpen starved for whiffs, Williams represents immediate impact. He posted a 37.7% whiff rate and consistently ranked among the top 10% in chase percentage. Detroit’s current late-inning group could benefit enormously from pairing him with Tyler Holton and if Finnegan returns. If you are thinking about arms in the minors, the Tigers really lack anyone above Erie and Toledo currently who is proven. Right-hander RJ Petit has put up good numbers in the minors and could get a look in spring training. 

Beyond pure metrics, Williams brings big-game experience and poise. He’s proven capable of handling ninth-inning pressure in Milwaukee and New York. For a team looking to move from competitive to contender, having a steady, dominant reliever could shorten games for manager A.J. Hinch.

Why He’s Not a Fit

However, there are reasons for caution. His hard-hit rate (37.2%) was the highest of his career in addition to a 9.3% barrel rate, highest of his career as well.  Oddly enough, his ERA away from hitter friendly Yankee Stadium was 5.93, and served up a WHIP of 1.32. 

Health is another question mark. The right-hander’s high-effort delivery and reliance on spin have led to occasional IL stints. For a front office that prizes durability and value, betting big on a 31-year-old reliever with recent command issues may not align with Scott Harris’ disciplined approach.

Finally, Williams won’t come cheap. With his track record, he’s likely to command $10–12 million annually. Given Detroit’s broader needs, another middle-order bat and possibly a mid-rotation starter, that’s a substantial investment for one bullpen arm.

Verdict

If Detroit wants to accelerate contention in 2026, signing Devin Williams would deliver instant credibility to the bullpen. Yet, the Tigers’ front office must balance short-term upgrades with long-term roster flexibility.

In short: Williams fits perfectly on paper, but only if the Tigers believe they’re ready to take the next step forward to being contenders in the AL. 

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