New York Mets right-hander Clay Holmes, who is expected to move from a relief role to a starting role with his new team in 2025, said he wants to be able to throw at least 160 innings next season. Holmes signed with the Mets in free agency and has confidence in the training staff to help with his transition to the starting rotation. The 31-year-old spent the last three seasons in the Bronx with the New York Yankees, making the All-Star team twice and posting a 2.85 ERA (2.84 FIP), 1.16 WHIP, 204 strikeouts, 65 walks and 74 saves in 189 2/3 innings pitched. He'll be looking for similar success that recent relievers-turned-starters Garrett Crochet and Reynaldo Lopez have had. Holmes threw a career-high 136 1/3 frames in the minors in 2016, so it may be a bit unrealistic for him to get up to 160 after spending much of the last six years as a reliever.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the New York Mets have signed relief pitcher Clay Holmes to a three-year, $38 million contract. Holmes spent his past three seasons serving as a high-leverage option for the New York Yankees. Last season, Holmes began the season as the closer but eventually lost his job towards the back half of the summer after posting a 3.75 ERA and 1.29 in the second half. Earlier in the offseason, there was speculation that potential suitors were viewing Holmes as a possible starting pitcher. Fantasy managers should monitor how the Mets view Holmes during spring training, as he will likely not see any save opportunities with Edwin Diaz on the roster. Despite his drop in production last summer, Holmes generated a strong 5.6% barrel rate, 30.2% whiff rate, and an impressive 64.6% ground-ball rate, which suggests he could be due for some positive regression in Queens.
According to Jayson Stark of The Athletic, relief pitcher Clay Holmes is nearing his free-agent decision. Stark noted that the clubs in talks with Holmes suggest he is nearing a final decision. However, it is still unknown whether Holmes will continue to operate as a reliever or consider moving to the rotation. Earlier this offseason, there was some speculation that teams were considering Holmes as a potential starting pitcher. In addition, Stark noted that several of the teams interested in Holmes are contenders. Last season, the 31-year-old opened the campaign as the Yankees closer but eventually lost his job later in the summer. In the second half, he posted a high 3.75 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. However, he still posted solid metrics under the hood, including a 5.6% barrel rate and a stellar 64.6% ground ball rate. Fantasy managers should monitor where Holmes signs, as he could find fantasy production either as a high-leverage option or as a starter.
A few teams are asking about free-agent right-hander Clay Holmes moving from the bullpen to the starting rotation in 2025, including the New York Mets, according to a source. Holmes was a starter throughout his minor-league career, but he hasn't started a game since his debut season with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2018. MLB teams are looking more at converting relievers into starters after recent success had by right-handers Seth Lugo, Michael King, Reynaldo Lopez, Jordan Hicks and Zack Littell. Holmes was an All-Star for the second time with the New York Yankees in 2024 as a reliever and has the pitch arsenal to be successful as a starter. In addition, he's been durable, appearing in the eighth-most games in the majors in the last four seasons and another 19 playoff games. Holmes turns 32 in March and led the majors in blown saves (13) this past season.
New York Yankees relief pitcher Clay Holmes picked up his first save of September on Sunday, finishing off the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 6-4 win. Holmes struck out one in his inning of work and didn't allow a baserunner. The veteran righty was removed from the closer's role in mid-September after blowing multiple saves (13 on the year) and has been working in lower-leverage roles since. In this one, the Yanks used new closer Luke Weaver in the eighth inning in a tie game. The Yankees then took the lead in the bottom of the inning and went with Holmes for the save in the ninth. This could mark a return to high leverage for Holmes, who has been good since being removed from the closer's role. They have no reason to move away from Weaver as the closer, but Holmes could make for a good setup man in the postseason.
New York Yankees relief pitcher Clay Holmes could be losing his grip on save opportunities. Jack Curry of the YES Network reported that manager Aaron Boone expressed that the team will get "creative with the closer role in the short term." Boone further expressed that Holmes should continue to be in the mix. While fantasy managers should not expect Holmes to immediately shift to a low-leverage role, his position as the bona fide ninth-inning option is shifting for now. Holmes surrendered four earned runs on Tuesday evening in his third blown save in his past ten innings. While the Yankee skipper did not mention any direct names of those who could see ninth-inning duties, fantasy managers should expect Mark Leiter Jr. to get one of the first chances as he typically pitches in the eighth inning and is worth stashing in deeper leagues if you are lacking in saves.
New York Yankees closer Clay Holmes secured the save in Friday night's win over the visiting Colorado Rockies at Yankee Stadium, hurling a scoreless ninth inning with one strikeout. Holmes tends to go on an adventure now and again in save situations, but Friday night offered no such theatrics as he induced a fly ball to center field from Rockies outfielder Nolan Jones to seal the save for New York against Colorado. The 31-year-old right-hander remains the Yankees' go-to stopper despite the occasional implosion here and there, registering a 2.77 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 60 strikeouts and 16 walks while converting just 27 of his 37 save opportunities over 52 innings this season.
New York Yankees relief pitcher Clay Holmes is expected to remain the team's primary closer going forward. This comes after Holmes blew his 10th save of the season during Sunday's game against the Detroit Tigers. Manager Aaron Boone sounds committed to Holmes as a high-leverage option. However, Boone did mention that he'd be open to using Holmes in the eighth inning as well. If that happens, Tommy Kahnle or possibly Luke Weaver could see save chances down the stretch. Holmes holds a 2.88 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and a 56/14 K/BB ratio across 50 innings. It's worth noting that Holmes has only converted 26 of his 36 save chances this season. Despite that, fantasy managers should be able to hang onto Holmes as a source for saves for the time being.
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he's unsure who would be his closer on Monday night against the hosting Chicago White Sox with closer Clay Holmes unavailable after Sunday's heavy workload. "We'll see," Boone said. Holmes threw 45 pitches to pick up a four-out save in Sunday's win over the visiting Texas Rangers, so fantasy managers will want to put the 31-year-old veteran on their bench to kick off the new week. If a save situation arises on Monday night, the most likely candidates for a save opportunity in Chicago will be Tommy Kahnle or Luke Weaver. After resting on Monday, Holmes should be available for a save chance as early as Tuesday. He was an All-Star for the second time in his career this year and has already recorded a career-high 25 saves while posting a 2.81 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 24.6% strikeout rate in 48 innings out of the 'pen.
Clay Holmes Tosses Scoreless Ninth Inning For The Save
New York Yankees relief pitcher Clay Holmes bounced back nicely during Wednesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The right-hander coughed up a one-run lead on Tuesday for his eighth blown save of the season. Luckily on Wednesday, Holmes was able to fire a scoreless final frame to convert his 22nd save of the season. Despite his recent struggles, Holmes appears to be locked into the closer role in New York.
Clay Holmes
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Mets
