Devin Williams finds himself at the intersection of two distinct narratives, a juxtaposition not of his own making but rather the result of circumstances. As the latest athlete to embody this duality, the question of his trajectory becomes particularly pertinent.

The first narrative raises a series of inquiries: Could Williams’ difficulties against the Yankees be chalked up to the unpredictable nature of relief pitching? It’s not uncommon for late-inning specialists, aside from the legendary Mariano Rivera, to experience fluctuations in performance akin to a volatile stock market. Was his recent performance merely an off year, suggesting a potential rebound? Or is this indicative of a more prolonged issue? Could an injury or a mechanical flaw be at play?

These considerations echo through the halls of sports management across all teams. When a franchise like the Mets invests heavily—$51 million over three years—in a player who did not have a standout final season, it’s crucial to scrutinize these factors. Such questions are not just reasonable; they are essential in the decision-making process.

These are the kinds of questions all teams in all sports ask themselves when it comes to acquiring an athlete, and committing the kind of money the Mets just did (three years, $51 million) to a player coming off something less than a career year in their walk year. They are fair issues.