Clay Holmes wasn’t the primary pitcher to return from the Yankees to the Mets after David Stearns got here aboard because the president of baseball operations two years in the past. That title belongs to Luis Severino, who’s now a rustic away from New York Metropolis, pitching in Sacramento for the A’s.
However Holmes did develop into a trendsetter of types as the primary of the group of reduction pitchers to go from the Bronx to Queens, so you may say he’s certified to present recommendation for these following in his path.
Luke Weaver wanted no recommendation. By the point he had reached out to his former teammate in regards to the Mets, he had already made up his thoughts.
“We exchanged some texts, I think they had their little Zoom meetings and stuff scheduled for later in the afternoon,” Holmes mentioned not too long ago at Citi Subject. “He was texting me before that meeting saying, ‘Well, I kind of just decided, and kind of just verbally agreed to it.’ I think things kind of went fast for him.”
The Mets signed the right-handed former Yankees nearer to a two-year, $22 million contract the week after the Winter Conferences to present the bullpen two high-leverage arms. Weaver might be reunited with right-hander Devin Williams, who signed with the Mets earlier in December as a free agent. and Holmes, a closer-turned-starter.
“There were a lot of things he really liked,” Holmes mentioned. “I’m happy to have a friend here.”
Luke Weaver #30 of the New York Yankees pitches towards the Toronto Blue Jays through the seventh inning of recreation one of many Division Collection at Rogers Centre on October 04, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Vaughn Ridley/Getty Photos)
The 2 grew shut with the Yankees, regardless of seemingly reversing roles with each other. Holmes was the Bombers’ nearer in 2024, earlier than ceding his job to Weaver late within the season. Weaver turned a breakout star of the playoffs within the ninth-inning position, whereas Holmes arrange for him at instances, and different instances he was tasked with holding tight leads within the center innings.
They’re the identical age with each going into their age-33 seasons, and their careers as beginning pitchers didn’t fairly work out as that they had anticipated. Holmes discovered his approach again to a beginning position with the Mets, however for Weaver, pitching in reduction revived his profession. A primary-round select of Florida State in 2014, Weaver pitched for six groups earlier than discovering his footing with the Yankees in 2024. He went 7-3 with a 2.89 ERA and 4 saves over 84 innings that season, serving to the Yankees attain the World Collection.
It was his first full season as a reliever. The Seattle Mariners lower him in 2023 after just a few reduction appearances, and the Yankees noticed sufficient to take an opportunity on him as a waiver-claim. They signed him as rotation depth for 2024 however shortly realized he might be more practical as a reliever.
“Luke has obviously had a lot of success, so for me, I’m happy to see him get rewarded for it and obviously happy to play with him again,” Holmes mentioned. “We get along really well; he’s a good friend. Just to see him make the trip over here and get to be his teammate again is going to be great.”
The 2 have completely different personalities, however they work collectively as buddies. Weaver is thought to be a personality, as soon as calling himself a “ferocious jungle cat” on the mound, however his demeanor can flip aggressive right away. Holmes is easygoing, but methodical on the mound.
Clay Holmes #35 of the New York Mets pitches through the second inning towards the Miami Marlins at Citi Subject on August 28, 2025 in New York Metropolis. (Kent J. Edwards/Getty Photos)
“Me and him, he balances me out a little while I balanced him out well,” Holmes mentioned. “We’ve kind of matched pretty good.”
Groups are usually so nicely ready with their free agent pitches, and groups and businesses alike are normally well-equipped with staffers to assist gamers and their households in making selections and making the bodily strikes to new cities that intermediaries like Holmes aren’t at all times wanted. Plus, going from the Yankees to the Mets isn’t precisely a drastic change for the households. Williams mentioned a part of the rationale he made the choice to signal with the Mets was due to his familiarity with the town after his 12 months with the Yankees.
Nonetheless, Holmes is joyful to avail himself if wanted.
“As a place to play, I’ve enjoyed it,” Holmes mentioned. “I’m sure a lot of the players out there, if they have any questions, there are a lot of people they can reach out to.”
