New York acquired Williams in December, sending starter Nestor Cortes and infielder Caleb Durbin to Milwaukee in a deal to bolster an already strong bullpen. A two-time All-Star with one of the most unhittable changeups in the game, called the “Airbender”, Williams was expected to anchor the ninth.

“For right now, I think it’s best for everyone that we pull him out of that role and try to start building some good rhythm and confidence and momentum,” Aaron Boone said Sunday. “And we fully expect him to be a central figure for us moving forward.”

Manager Aaron Boone made the announcement before Sunday's doubleheader against Toronto, two days after the two-time All-Star wasted a ninth-inning lead in a 4-2 loss to the Blue Jays.