Clay Holmes Joins Mets to Transition from Closer to Starting Pitcher

The former Yankees reliever signs a three-year deal with the Mets and aims to return to his roots as a starter for the 2025 MLB season.

Clay Holmes has signed a three-year, $38 million contract with the Mets, including a $12 million player option for 2027, to transition from a reliever to a starting pitcher.
Holmes, a former Yankees closer, began his career as a starter in the Pirates organization but was moved to the bullpen in 2018, where he found success as a reliever.
The Mets see potential in Holmes’ diverse pitch arsenal, including his elite sinker, slider, and sweeper, along with a four-seam fastball and changeup he has been refining.
Holmes will work closely with Mets pitching coaches Jeremy Hefner and Desi Druschel, who previously worked with him on the Yankees, to adapt to the increased workload of a starter.
The move follows a growing trend of successful reliever-to-starter transitions in MLB, inspired by players like Michael King and Seth Lugo, and Holmes has set a goal of throwing at least 160 innings in 2025.