FILE - Milwaukee Brewers' Devin Williams reacts after recording a save during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash, File)
Two of the Cardinals' division rivals made some big moves on Friday, bringing clarity to the 2025 National League Central division race.
The defending division champion Milwaukee Brewers dealt All-Star closer and Florissant native Devin Williams to the New York Yankees for left-hander Nestor Cortes and infield prospect Caleb Durbin.
The Yankees also will send more than $1 million to the Brewers as part of the trade.
A 30-year-old right-hander who attended Hazelwood Central, Williams is eligible for free agency after the 2025 season. He was diagnosed during spring training with two stress fractures in his back and didn't make his season debut until July 28.
Williams was 14 for 15 in save chances with a 1.25 ERA, striking out 38 and walking 11 in 21 2/3 innings. His fastball averaged 94.7 mph and he threw it on 53.5% of his pitches, mixing in 45% changeups — known as the "Airbender" — around 1.5% cutters.
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An All-Star in 2022 and 2023, Williams was a second-round pick in the 2013 amateur draft and is 27-10 with a 1.83 ERA and 68 saves in 78 chances over six seasons, striking out 375 and walking 112 in 235 2/3 innings over 241 games.
Milwaukee declined a $10.5 million club option in favor of a $250,000 buyout last month, making Williams eligible for arbitration.
Former Cardinal Luke Weaver emerged as the Yankees' closer late in 2024 and into the playoffs.
Cortes, who turned 30 on Tuesday, was an All-Star in 2022 when he went 12-4 with a career-best 2.44 ERA in 28 starts. He made just one start after May 30 in 2023 because of a strained left rotator cuff and was sidelined late in the 2024 season by a flexor strain in his left elbow.
New York had an excess of starters after reaching a $218 million, eight-year agreement with left-hander Max Fried that is pending. The rotation also is projected to include ace Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt, with Marcus Stroman also available.
Houston Astros' Kyle Tucker bats during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Cubs acquire Kyle Tucker from Astros; Cody Bellinger on block
The Cardinals and Chicago Cubs tied for second in the division at 83-79, and while St. Louis is planning a youth movement in 2025, the Cubs made a move for short-term improvement, landing the superstar hitter their lineup has needed.
The Cubs have acquired outfielder Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros for third baseman Isaac Paredes, right-hander Hayden Wesneski and their 2024 first-round pick, third baseman Cam Smith.
Tucker, 27, is coming off his third consecutive All-Star appearance after hitting .289 with a .409 on-base percentage, .585 slugging percentage and 181 OPS+ in 78 games.
The left-handed slugging right fielder gives the Cubs a proven, consistent middle of the order hitter they’ve been lacking. Tucker’s addition sets up the Cubs to move Cody Bellinger, with the New York Yankees involved in discussions for the outfielder, sources told the Chicago Tribune.
The Cubs paid a hefty price for Tucker, who will be a free agent after the season. But it’s a trade they needed to make, even if Tucker decides to test free agency and not sign a contract extension with the Cubs.
Paredes’ time with the organization proved to be shorter than the Cubs envisioned when they acquired him for Christopher Morel and reliever Hunter Bigge ahead of the July trade deadline. Wesneski was a valuable swing pitcher on the staff this past season, but the Cubs possess the starting pitching depth to handle dealing the Houston native. Smith, 21, climbed three levels in his first taste of pro ball after the Cubs took him at No. 14 overall. He possesses tantalizing power, slugging seven homers in 32 games.
No big league team could exceed the Cubs’ combination of prospects, including eight in the top 100, and big league talent in a trade for Tucker. The Astros and Cubs were ultimately able to match up to swing the biggest acquisition of president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer’s tenure.
There is increased pressure on president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer to get the team back into the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
Chicago also on Friday agreed to terms with former Cardinals catcher Carson Kelly on a two-year contract.
FanDuel now lists the Cubs as favorites to win the division (-105), followed by Milwaukee (+240). The Reds (+700), Cardinals (+800) and Pirates (+950) bring up the rear.
