Clay Holmes and the New York Mets signed a three-year contract worth $38 million on Monday, with plans to convert the All-Star reliever into a starting pitcher.
Holmes will earn $13 million each year for the first two years of the contract. He also has a $12 million player option for 2027, with no buyout.
“We’re excited to bring Clay into the organization and collaborate on his transition to the starting rotation,” Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said in a press release. “Clay has an elite repertoire, knows New York, and will be a key contributor going forward.”
Holmes made four starts in the major leagues, all with Pittsburgh, after joining the majors in 2018. He also made 114 starts in the minors.
Holmes became a strong closer with the New York Yankees after being traded from the Pirates in July 2021, earning two All-Star selections. However, he struggled this year with his control and gave up hits from soft contact. Holmes lost his closer role to Luke Weaver after giving up a game-ending grand slam to Texas rookie Wyatt Langford on September 3.
The right-handed pitcher was 3-5 with a 3.14 ERA and a career-high 30 saves in 67 appearances, leading the majors with 13 blown saves. After getting his sinker back, he became an effective setup man for the Yankees during the postseason, going 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA in 13 games.
Holmes’ sinker averaged 96.6 mph this season, and he threw it 56% of the time, along with 23% sliders and 21% sweepers. His 65% groundball rate was second to Tim Hill (68.2%) last season among pitchers with 50 or more innings, and his 68.6% groundball rate over the past three years was the best in the majors.
Holmes, who will turn 32 in March, has 74 saves in 95 chances with the Yankees over the past three years. He has a career record of 24-22 with a 3.71 ERA in seven major league seasons.
After reaching the NL Championship Series and losing to the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, the Mets signed right-hander Frankie Montas to a two-year, $34 million contract.
Right-hander Luis Severino, who led the Mets in innings with 182, became a free agent and signed a three-year, $67 million deal with the Athletics. This deal includes a $10 million signing bonus and salaries of $15 million next year and $20 million in 2026. Severino has a $22 million player option for 2027.
Left-handers Sean Manaea and Jose Quintana, important parts of this year’s rotation, are still available as free agents.
