Of all the available free agents, Clay Holmes experienced perhaps the most puzzling 2024 season. To start, he appeared untouchable. To end, he lost favor with Yankees’ skipper Aaron Boone and was relegated to a lesser role as the team made its march to the World Series. Thus is the life of a relief pitcher, the most notoriously fickle position in MLB.
For the better part of three major league seasons, Holmes was one of the best closers in the sport. A former ninth round pick with the Pirates, he was traded to the Yankees in 2021 after failing to impress in Pittsburgh.