The Mets have agreed with the former Yankees reliever Clay Holmes on a three-year contract worth $38 million pending a physical, SNY’s Andy Martino confirmed, as their offseason spending continues. The deal has an opt-out after the second year.
Holmes finished the 2024 season with a solid 3.14 ERA (1.30 WHIP) in 63 innings and had a career-high 30 saves, but he also blew 13 save chances and lost his closer’s role late in the season.
The 31-year-old doesn’t think he’s any closer during his time in Queens, with that crown still belonging to Edwin Diaz. In fact, the Mets don’t plan to use Holmes as a reliever at all, but plan to convert him into a starting pitcher, according to Passan.
In seven seasons – all as a reliever (except his first season in 2018 with the Pittsburgh Pirates when he made four starts) – the right-hander is 24-22 with a 3.71 ERA (1.30 WHIP). Since being traded to the Yanks during the 2021 season, Holmes was converted into a closer and really took off with a 2.69 ERA (1.11 WHIP) in 217.2 innings.
Anyway, he’ll probably join now Kodai Senga, David Peterson and recently signed Frankie Montas in the starting rotation for 2025.
