Man responsible for Mets' latest meltdown could have easily signed with the Cubs

Just when it looked like the New York Mets were going to snap their longest losing streak in more than two decades, the wheels fell off All-Star closer Devin Williams - and the Minnesota Twins rallied to down the Metropolitans by a 5-3 final in front of an angry and shocked Citi Field crowd.

This latest loss - the team's 12th consecutive - can be laid squarely at the feet of Williams, who has now allowed seven earned over his last three appearances and carries a 9.95 ERA and 2.684 WHIP on the young season.

“It’s tough, man,” Williams said after Tuesday's loss. “I’ve never been a part of something like this.”

So, sure, while Chicago Cubs fans may not love Daniel Palencia being shelved with a lat issue, at least we're not paying our ninth-inning man big money to not get the job done. But that could have very easily been the case, given Williams' reported interest in coming to Chicago and reuniting with his former manager, Craig Counsell, in free agency last winter.

Cubs refused to cave to Devin Williams' demands in free agency

It came down to New York and Chicago and, in the end, the Cubs weren't willing to match the Mets' offer - a three-year deal worth $51 million. Now, in all seriousness, we don't know how this contract will look when it's all said and done, but it's an inauspicious start to this marriage, to say the least.

Williams is walking more than eight batters per nine and has allowed as many hits as he has strikeouts. Perhaps Mets fans can take some solace in the fact that Edwin Diaz, the man Williams replaced, won't pitch again for the Dodgers until sometime in the second half due to an elbow injury, but after dropping a dozen straight ballgames, it probably isn't top of mind.

Meanwhile, the Cubs and their ramshackle mix of bullpen arms are aiming for an eighth straight win on Wednesday night at Wrigley - three of which came over the weekend at the expense of the Mets. These are two teams on opposite ends of the spectrum right now and it's safe to say that, right now, nobody is lamenting Jed Hoyer's decision to not overextend for Williams the way they were four months ago.

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