The Milwaukee Brewers’ bullpen has undergone significant changes recently, with Trevor Megill stepping up as the team’s new star closer following the offseason trade of Devin Williams. This transition highlights the Brewers’ strategic approach to maintaining strong pitching roles amid key player moves.
Milwaukee Reinvents Its Bullpen After Trading Devin Williams
The Brewers have steadily built their impressive roster through smart trades, drafts, and player development. Once featuring a dominant bullpen duo of Josh Hader and Devin Williams, Milwaukee’s recent front office decisions have reshaped the closer position. After trading away Hader a few years ago and promoting Williams to closer, the Brewers moved Williams to the New York Yankees this past offseason, promoting Trevor Megill in his place.
Trevor Megill’s Rise as an Essential Closer for the Brewers
Megill’s emergence as the Brewers’ closer has been notable, especially as he has stepped up during key moments of the 2024 season. Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report described the Brewers’ approach as a successful passing of the torch from one closer to the next, stating,
“The Brewers continue to do a great job passing the torch to the next in-house option at closer, going from Josh Hader to Devin Williams to Megill, who was a first-time All-Star this year.”
This 6’8” right-hander has recorded 49 saves in 55 chances over the last two seasons and impressed while filling in for an injured Williams in early 2024.
Even before this season, Megill had shown his value when he performed strongly during periods when Williams was sidelined. The confidence the Brewers had in Megill’s skillset was a decisive factor behind their willingness to trade Williams, believing Megill was more than capable of leading the bullpen.
Trade Impact and Brewers’ Strong Current Performance
The decision to trade Williams has so far proven to be a major success. After struggling significantly with the Yankees this season, Williams has failed to replicate his past dominance. Meanwhile, Megill has been a consistent force as the Brewers’ closer, helping fuel the team’s ongoing 12-game winning streak as of Thursday. This momentum could push Milwaukee closer to a 15-game win streak by the weekend, underlining the bullpen’s importance to their overall success.
The Brewers’ ability to continually develop closer talent in-house, while making timely trades, reinforces their reputation as one of MLB’s smartest and most competitive clubs. Megill’s contribution solidifies the bullpen’s role in keeping the team at the top of the league standings and provides a promising outlook for future seasons.