After spending a few years with the New York Yankees as a reliever, Clay Holmes signed with the New York Mets to be a starter last year.
In his first year as a full-time starter, Holmes had a 3.53 ERA and outplayed his $13 million salary. This season, he had a 2.39 ERA through nine starts before taking a comebacker off the leg and landing on the injured list with a fractured fibula. If not for a freak injury, he may have been one of the most coveted arms at the trade deadline. He is nearing a return, and the Mets have a decision to make.
Holmes has a $12 million player option for next season, and after establishing himself as a good starter, he will likely decline that in search of more money on the open market. The Mets could extend him and ensure he's part of their future, but a trade could net them young talent to compete for years to come.
"While the possibility remains that the New York Mets and Clay Holmes agree to an extension, there’s a significantly greater likelihood of a trade, said people familiar with the situation who were granted anonymity in exchange for their candor," The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon wrote on Wednesday.
Holmes could slot into a postseason rotation seamlessly. If he is viewed as a rental, he may not even cost much for teams looking to buy at the deadline. He could thrive on a team with an elite defense behind him. He ranks in the 94th percentile for ground ball rate. The Mets have a minus-18 outs above average. Imagine Holmes on a team like the Chicago Cubs with an elite defensive infield and a desperate need for starting pitching.