Clay Holmes joins Mets as starter in bold $38M move.
The Mets are making headlines again, this time by signing Clay Holmes—the Yankees’ closer—to a three-year, $38 million deal. But here’s the twist: they’re not keeping him in the bullpen. Holmes is going to be a starter. That’s the plan, and it’s very… Mets.
Holmes, known for his filthy sinker that kept hitters pounding the ball into the ground (a league-leading 64.6% ground-ball rate last year), hasn’t started a game since 2018. Back then, he was with the Pirates, just trying to figure things out.
But the Mets seem to think he’s got what it takes to go multiple innings. He’s got three pitches: that sinker, plus a slider and a sweeper. Enough for a starter? Maybe. Enough to make this move interesting? Definitely.
This isn’t the first time a reliever has been turned into a starter. Look at Seth Lugo. He left the Mets, joined the Padres, and suddenly became a Cy Young-caliber starter in Kansas City. Then there’s Michael King, who went from bullpen weapon for the Yankees to standout starter for the Padres. It’s a trend, and the Mets want in.
Holmes has had his ups and downs. Last year, he blew 13 saves and lost the Yankees’ closer role by September. But he also made the All-Star team, saved 30 games, and posted a solid 3.14 ERA. Over the past four seasons, he’s been reliable—3.05 ERA across nearly 260 innings. The stuff is there. The consistency is the question.
The Mets’ rotation is kind of a mess right now. Kodai Senga and David Peterson are still there, but beyond that? Frankie Montas came in on a $34 million deal, but he’s more of a wild card than a sure thing. Losing Luis Severino, Sean Manaea, and José Quintana left holes that aren’t exactly filled yet.
Holmes isn’t the typical starter they’d go for, but he might be what they need. They’ve done this before—taking pitchers who aren’t perfect fits and making them work. Sean Manaea and Severino were signed to short-term deals last year and outperformed expectations. Maybe Holmes can do the same. Maybe not. That’s the risk.
This move seems very budget-conscious. Holmes’ deal is affordable, especially compared to what top relievers or starters are getting this offseason. Severino’s getting $22.3 million per year from the A’s. Holmes? Just over $12 million annually. The Mets aren’t splurging right now, and that’s probably because they’re saving every last dollar for Juan Soto.
The Mets want Soto. Badly. They’re making smaller moves, avoiding anything too flashy or expensive, and leaving room for what could be a franchise-changing signing. If they land Soto, this offseason suddenly looks brilliant. If not? Well, then every move gets overanalyzed. Including this one.
So, is Holmes a smart pickup? Hard to say yet. The upside is there. If he can handle a starter’s workload, the Mets might have found a steal. If not, he’s still a solid bullpen option. Either way, it’s not a disaster.
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