The Bronx-to-Queens pipeline continues with the Mets agreeing to phrases with right-hander Clay Holmes on a three-year, $38 million contract. The deal is pending a bodily.
The 31-year-old Alabama native recorded 74 saves for the Yankees over the past three seasons, together with 30 in 2024. He’s posted a 3.71 ERA over seven seasons (311 appearances, 337 1/3 innings).
After struggling to stay within the huge leagues from 2018-2021, the Pittsburgh Pirates traded him to the Yankees, the place pitched properly sufficient to earn high-leverage alternatives. He misplaced his nearer function to Luke Weaver late final season after 13 blown saves. Nevertheless, he redeemed himself with a robust postseason, posting a 2.25 ERA. He threw 5.0 scoreless innings within the ALDS and 4.1 scoreless within the World Sequence.
In 20 postseason innings, Holmes has allowed solely three earned runs, all of which have been to Cleveland on this 12 months’s ALCS (1.35 ERA).
The 2-time All-Star may benefit from having Francisco Lindor behind him at shortstop. Holmes has a four-pitch combine however depends closely on his sinker, slider and sweeper, protecting the ball on the bottom to get outs. His swing-and-miss price was within the 84th percentile final season, based on Statcast.
Whereas the Yankees aren’t precisely recognized for his or her protection, the Mets have a heavy emphasis on run suppression and elementary protection.
Holmes may need so as to add one other pitch, however the Mets clearly see potential. He throws exhausting sufficient to be a starter with a 96 MPH sinker and a 97 MPH fastball, however he’ll must construct up to some extent the place he’s in a position to keep the speed thrice by means of the order.
This transfer reunites Holmes with former Yankees assistant pitching coach Desi Druschel, who was just lately employed to help Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner. Holmes additionally performed with Frankie Montas, one other new free-agent beginning pitching addition, and is aware of supervisor Carlos Mendoza from his time with the Yankees.
Holmes and Montas be a part of Kodai Senga, David Peterson and Paul Blackburn within the rotation. Proper-handers Tylor Megill and Jose Butto are additionally choices to start out, however Megill seems to be headed to the bullpen. Butto was an extended reliever final season however struggled within the playoffs. It’s unclear how the Mets plan to make use of him going ahead.
The Mets are hoping to poach one other former Yankee, outfielder Juan Soto, subsequent week on the winter conferences. All of baseball will descend on Dallas subsequent week with the most important occasion of the offseason beginning Monday.
Initially Printed: December 6, 2024 at 8:25 PM EST
