The New York Mets agreed to phrases with a free agent from the New York Yankees on Friday evening.
It’s simply not the large identify that everyone was anticipating.
No, it was not outfielder Juan Soto (who the Mets are within the operating to signal), however as an alternative pitcher Clay Holmes, who has reportedly signed a three-year, $38 million contract with the group.
What’s most fascinating about this transfer is the Mets reportedly plan on utilizing Holmes as a beginning pitcher, and never a reduction pitcher as he has been all through nearly all of his Main League profession.
The 31-year-old Holmes has spent seven years within the main leagues, and of his 311 appearances, solely 4 of them have come as a beginning pitcher.
All 4 of these begins got here in his rookie season again in 2018.
Within the early a part of his profession with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Holmes struggled to seek out consistency it doesn’t matter what function he was utilized in. He was ultimately traded to the Yankees in 2021 and nearly instantly turned some of the efficient reduction pitchers in baseball.
He spent the previous three seasons because the Yankees nearer, however he struggled mightily this season.
Going from that function, the place he might go all-out for only one inning at a time, to a starter goes to be a reasonably large transition and would possibly take a while for him to construct as much as that.
Whereas that will probably be an interesting experiment to observe unfold, he definitely has the stuff to make it work and elite pitches that might play nicely as a starter.
If he fails as a starter? It shouldn’t be a difficulty for the Mets to place him again within the bullpen and let him return into a job the place he has excelled lately.
