The Mets made one of the more intriguing moves of the offseason when they landed former Yankees closer Clay Holmes on a three-year, $38 million contract.
The deal, which includes a player option for 2027, comes out to about $12.67 million per year—right in line with what top-tier relievers fetch on the open market. However, what makes this signing particularly interesting is Holmes’ desire to expand his role beyond the bullpen and test himself as a starter, a transition that, if successful, could make this contract look like an absolute steal.
A Reliever With Starting Ambitions
Holmes has never thrown more than 70 innings in a season, but he has been a workhorse out of the bullpen, reaching at least 63 innings in each of the past four years.