The Milwaukee Brewers found out this week they’d be without All-Star Closer Devin Williams, due to two stress fractures in his lower back. The Brewers won the National League Central last season, but have taken a few hits heading into 2024. They traded Corbin Burnes to the Orioles this offseason, will be missing Brandon Woodruff most likely for the year, and now will miss Devin Williams for three months. Not exactly how you want to kick off a new season, missing one of the game’s best closers. Williams last year appeared in 61 games going 8-3, with an ERA of 1.53 and 36 saves last season.
Who’s Next in Line?
RHP – Trevor Megill
Trevor Megill is six foot 8 and weighs in at 255 lbs while having a fastball that sits just under 100 Mph on average. He has the build, he has the power arm and he now has the opportunity in front of him to show what he can do under extreme pressure. Megill utilizes two pitches a four-seam fastball (73%) and a knuckle curve (27%) during the last two seasons. He abandoned his slider after the 2021 season. When looking at Megill’s numbers the K/9 rate is great 13.5 and 0.5 HR/9. If Megill can keep the control in check I think he has the power arm that can fill in nicely for Williams in his extended time on the IL. Over 34.2 innings last year Megill walked 12 batters and struck out 52, giving up only two home runs.
RHP – Joel Payamps
Joel Payamps is a veteran pitcher who last year had three saves, in 69 games, 70.2 innings worked, with a 7-5 record and an ERA of 2.55. Payamps uses four pitches Slider (43.8%), Sinker (22.1%), four-seamer (21.9), and a changeup (12.2%) of the time. His fastball sits around 95 MPH for velocity so not quite as powerful as Megill, but he also doesn’t lean on that pitch as much either in comparison. Payamps 9.8 K/9 is lower than Megill and his BB/9 is as well. Payamps did give up 8 home runs last year which as a closer would concern me some.
Summary
I think the best thing for the Brewers to do is to allow Megill to take the role over and keep Payamps in his role from last season it was his best season so far in his career and I wouldn’t mess with it right out of the gate. I think a power arm like Megill’s will work fine as long as he can control the strike zone and continue to strike batters out at his high rate per 9 innings. Now what I am about to say might upset some folks, but what’s the worse that happens Megill comes out and succeeds in the role during the first three months for the Brewers team who on paper with its current pitching staff appears to have taken a step back in the Central? What if the 30-year-old Megill allows the Brewers the option to showcase Devin Williams when he returns and then can Trade Williams before the deadline to a team looking for closer or additional bullpen help? Or the team keeps Megill allowing him to become an elite setup man while Williams hopefully comes back the same pitcher without any further issues with his back. If Megill struggles then the team can turn to Joel Payamps and hope he can fill in until Williams is ready. In the end for a team like the Brewers who by Mid-June hope to still be in the hunt in the Central if so they will have a strong back end of the bullpen, if they aren’t doing well and sit in the bottom two in the division they will have some options on how to strengthen the roster for the future perhaps. Trevor Megill is the best fit for the Closer role in the meantime, what happens after will be interesting.
