Mets sign Devin Williams away from Yankees to three-year deal in huge free agency move

After a tough first season in New York, Devin Williams hopes for better results with a move to the other city.

The reliever, who arrived in The Bronx via a trade from Milwaukee a year ago and quickly lost his role as Yankees closer, is headed to the Mets, The Post confirmed.

The 31-year-old agreed to a three-year deal worth $51 million — with some cash deferrals, according to The Post’s Jon Heyman.

Williams’ move to Queens doesn’t necessarily spell the end for Edwin Díaz with the Mets.

Díaz opted out of the final two years of his contract earlier this offseason and is a free agent, but the Mets remain interested in retaining him, even with Williams, according to sources.

Díaz has had another great year with the Mets, fully recovering from the torn patellar tendon that cost him the 2023 season.

Still, he turns 32 in March and it’s unclear if the Mets are willing to give him a long-term contract.

It will be another change of scenery for Williams, who was expected to take the closer role with the Yankees after starring with the Brewers but instead struggled so much that he lost the job twice – and for good when they traded for David Bednar at the deadline.

The move also reunites Williams with David Stearns, who served as Brewers general manager for most of Williams’ time in Milwaukee.

But the Mets won’t necessarily hand the ninth inning to Williams, who first landed in Mets history when he allowed Pete Alonso’s series-changing homer in Game 3 of the 2024 wild-card series in Milwaukee.

Williams then went to the Yankees and initially fell flat. He retired from the closer role in April with an 11.25 ERA through his first 10 appearances.

He was given the closer job in early June, but hesitated again.

Williams rebounded and pitched well in a setup role, especially in September, when he pitched nine scoreless innings in nine appearances.

He followed that up with a solid performance in the postseason.

Williams finished the regular season with an ugly 4.79 ERA – a career worst – and while his strikeout rate dropped, some other advanced stats indicated that Williams was the victim of at least some bad luck.

The Mets are betting that this is the case and that Williams can eventually step into the spotlight.

After the Yankees were eliminated from the ALDS by the Blue Jays, Williams said he was “absolutely open” to a return to The Bronx.

That’s hardly surprising for a soon-to-be free agent, but he explained why he’d be better prepared for what lay ahead if he stayed with the team — and in New York after six seasons in tiny Milwaukee.

“This place has definitely grown with me,” Williams said of The Bronx. “I appreciate the fans and their… eagerness to win.”

Asked if it took time to get used to it, Williams said: “It did a little bit, but I would say they are fans and they just want to see their team win. That’s the job we have to do and I would definitely vouch for that.” [coming back].”

While he won’t return to the Yankees, perhaps his season with them will ease the transition to Citi Field.

His signing is part of what has already been a busy offseason for David Stearns, as the Mets have shaken up their coaching staff and traded Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers for Marcus Semien.

And Alonso, Williams’ former nemesis, also remains a free agent.

The Mets are looking to bounce back from their historic collapse, which will likely include more help for the rotation. As Stearns said after the Nimmo trade, bringing it back with the same roster was “not the right thing to do.”