Early returns on Yankees-Brewers blockbuster Devin Williams trade look cursed for all

It's too early to judge for certain, but through the first two weeks of the 2025 MLB season, we appear to have a Cursed Trade Alert unfolding for the offseason swap between the New York Yankees and Milwaukee Brewers.

Brian Cashman, who might've read a dog-eared copy of The Art of the Deal one too many times, has specialized in "lose-lose" trades during the Aaron Judge Era, attempting to get the Yankees over the hump. Most of his notorious trade busts (Sonny Gray, Joey Gallo, Frankie Montas) also come with very little benefit to the team he dealt with (James Kaprielian? Luis Medina? Ezequiel Duran?). When the best player you've dealt in years is either Josh Smith, Hayden Wesneski or JP Sears, it's pretty clear that something is fundamentally wrong with all sides of the process, like a triangle covered in spikes.

Naturally, when word broke that Brewers superstar closer Devin Williams was heading to New York to spend his walk year with the Yankees, our first thought was, "Who did we give up?! And this won't be one of those deals that goes sour immediately, will it?"

Well ... it's too early to judge emphatically, but through the Yankees' first 12 games, Williams has underwhelmed significantly, sandwiched around a paternity leave that likely sapped more strength. His fastball velocity is down, and his trademark changeup just looks like Regularly Ignored Slop. He's allowed more earned runs this season (four) than he did in 21 2/3 innings last year (three).

Brewers fans have warned Yankee fans that Williams often bends, but doesn't break. Thus far, his bender has been bent, and he's broken plenty. To make matters worse, on the other side of the equation, the Brew Crew has been hit by depressing inadequacy, too.

Yankees-Brewers Devin Williams, Nestor Cortes Jr. trade is working out poorly for all parties in April. Where's Caleb Durbin?

Nestor Cortes Jr., the primary return, succumbed to an elbow flexor strain similar to the one he suffered in 2024 after just two starts. Though he exited early, he made plenty of noise before he left, getting thunderously pasted by the Yankees' torpedo bats. The first three batters he faced in his season debut all went yard.

For now, this trade hinges on Caleb Durbin, the infield prospect Milwaukee also swiped from the Bombers. Though he didn't make the Opening Day roster, he's begun the season hitting .263 with an .800 OPS at Triple-A Nashville. With Vinny Capra slumping, his call may come soon enough.

The burden of an entire offseason blockbuster might be balanced on his shoulders, unless Williams can shake off the multitude of things that are holding him back. This swap may have changed off-field history by altering the Yankees' facial hair policy, but on the field, it's right in line with Cashman's recent history so far. Nobody's happy. The Cash Special.