Clay Holmes Getting Looks As A Starter For 2025

One former New York Yankees pitcher may take on a different role in 2025.

Clay Holmes is a free agent for the first time in his career, and he may transition away from his typical reliever duties. The New York Mets are one of a few teams to be interested in signing the righty as a starter for 2025.

Holmes has only made four starts in the majors, all of them coming during his first MLB stint with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2018. He made four starts throughout the year, allowing 13 earned runs in 15 innings pitched. The righty has also made 114 starts in the minor leagues since being drafted in 2011.

Holmes went 3-5 with a 3.14 ERA and 68 strikeouts during the regular season with the Yankees in 2024. He pitched 63 innings in 67 appearances and was fourth in the American League with 30 saves.

The righty had an open down season as the Yankees’ ninth-inning man. He was named to his second All-Star team and recorded a career-high in saves. Holmes also tied the team's single-season record with 13 blown saves which was initially recorded by Dave Righetti in 1987. He was moved out of the closer’s role in early September after allowing a walk-off grand slam to the Texas Rangers.