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Why the Mets Should Extend Clay Holmes

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Logan VanDine | Last updated Jul 2, 2026 8:03 PM ET

If there is one offseason move that New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns deserves praise for, it's signing Clay Holmes.

The former reliever signed a three-year, $38 million contract with the Mets in December 2024 and was converted to a starting pitcher, something he hasn't done since 2018.

Across 33 games (31 starts) last season, Holmes posted a 12-8 record with an impressive 3.53 ERA and 129 strikeouts across a career-high 165.2 innings pitched. It certainly seemed like the Mets had a formidable starter in the rotation.

The right-hander followed up his sharp 2025 campaign by quickly solidifying himself as the Mets' ace. Through nine starts this season, Holmes had an impeccable 2.39 ERA and began lifting a Mets rotation that was underperforming.

But during what has become a lost season in Flushing, Holmes landed on the injured list in May. He fractured his right fibula when he was hit in that leg by a hard-hit comebacker from New York Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones.

While the 33-year-old has since begun to ramp up his rehab with a target date of the beginning of August, his future with the Mets remains unclear.

This is why the Amazins' should look to extend their unsung ace.

Apr 28, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Clay Holmes (35) pitches in the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Despite suffering a broken leg, Holmes will almost certainly opt out of his contract at the end of the season with the hopes of seeking a long-term deal. But that's not all. With the Mets increasingly looking like sellers at the trade deadline, it is a strong possibility that teams across the league will inquire about Holmes if he's healthy by the deadline.

The Mets, though, should not look to deal him for one obvious reason: the current options in their rotation. For much of this season, New York's rotation has been an abject disappointment.

Sean Manaea owns a 4.71 ERA in 18 games. Kodai Senga has followed up last year's struggles with an 0-7 record and a dismal 9.09 ERA, resulting in a demotion to the bullpen. Nolan McLean hasn't quite looked like the same pitcher from his late-season cameo last year, logging a 3.78 ERA in 17 starts. And perhaps the biggest disappointment in their rotation is Freddy Peralta, who was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers to be the ace.

The right-hander has a 4.82 ERA in 18 starts this season and has failed to give the Mets length in much of his starts this season. And with Peralta slated to be a free agent at the end of the season, he may wind up getting dealt anyway.

The Mets just don't have any viable and consistent starting pitchers right now, which has been the main factor in this year being a disaster. While a healthy Clay Holmes may not have saved their season, he was certainly a huge lift for a struggling rotation.

Starting pitching, without a doubt, is New York's biggest need heading into next season, and one way to address it is by extending Clay Holmes.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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