Aaron Boone No Longer Trusts Devin Williams After Third Straight Criticism

In a tense showdown in Arlington on August 5, 2025, Yankees manager Aaron Boone appears to have quietly lost faith in his closer, Devin Williams—marking a pivotal moment in New York’s bullpen saga. After allowing a ninth-inning game-tying homer, Williams watched helplessly as Jake Bird surrendered the walk-off three‑run home run that sealed an 8–5 extra-inning loss to the Texas Rangers. With the Yankees dropping their fourth straight game, Boone signaled a clear shift away from trusting Williams in high-stakes moments.

A Closer on Thin Ice

Williams’ season has been a roller coaster. Once the presumed anchor of New York’s bullpen, his early struggles led Boone to demote him from the closer role in late April after a disastrous outing that included surrendering three earned runs in a save situation. Boone noted that while Williams has the tools, his command has been erratic, leading to avoidable walks and losses of control on the mound.

Although Williams had shown flashes of regaining his elite "Airbender" changeup form—a signature pitch praised for its devastating movement—he recently shattered confidence by allowing a clutch homer to tie the game with two outs in the ninth. Boone’s bullpen strategy now appears to favor Luke Weaver and other arms over Williams in high-leverage spots .

Pressure Mounts After Consecutive Blows

Williams’ recent collapse represents the third major implosion of the year. Earlier in May, he also coughing up an eighth-inning lead and creating a bases-loaded crisis that cost the Yankees a game against the Padres. Only three consecutive solid saves had temporarily restored Boone’s faith—until this latest misstep reopened the scrutiny.

Yankees insider sentiment reflects growing anxiety. On Reddit, fans debated aggressively whether Williams should continue in these critical roles at all:

“Devin Williams needs another demotion. Can’t even put him in the 8th…”
“We are staying away from Devin Williams … with how much they've been used of late, Aaron Boone said.”

 

Boone's Balancing Act

Despite his struggles, Boone has publicly refrained from outright removing Williams, citing his elite credentials and belief in his capacity to rebound. He has, however, made it clear that his role will be limited—never again trusted with multi-inning or inherently pressure-packed ninth-inning duties, at least for now.

Behind the scenes, veteran teammate Carlos Rodón has offered support, citing his own early adversity with the Yankees and encouraging Williams to rebuild confidence—reminding everyone that form can change quickly in baseball .

What It Means for the Yankees

With the Yankees losing their fourth straight and falling deeper in the AL Wild Card hunt, bullpen reliability—or lack thereof—has become a focal point. Boone has leaned heavily on Luke Weaver and even Jake Bird in key spots, signaling a strategic pivot until Williams either reclaims form or is permanently relegated to lower-leverage appearances.

Bottom Line

With his performance in critical moments unraveling, Devin Williams has entered a perilous chapter of his Yankees tenure. Aaron Boone’s dwindling trust, now openly reflected in usage patterns, may define whether Williams remains a key closer or becomes merely a bullpen afterthought. In a season where every inning counts, New York is no longer betting on weathering his volatility.