The White Sox are sitting on a one-game cushion over the Guardians in the AL Central, and that has pushed them closer to deadline mode. One name now on Chicago’s radar is Mets starter Clay Holmes, with USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reporting that White Sox special assistant Nick Hostetler will “keep tabs” on Holmes during his minor league rehab assignment.
That assignment has not officially started yet. Holmes was supposed to pitch for high-A Brooklyn, but the outing was wiped out by bad weather. MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo reported that multiple scouts and evaluators from rival clubs were on hand to watch, only for Holmes to throw about 45 pitches in a live bullpen session that was limited to Mets personnel.
Holmes has been working back from a fractured fibula suffered on May 15, when the Yankees’ Spencer Jones lined a ball off Holmes’ right leg. He avoided surgery and is still on pace for a return sometime in August, but the exact timing remains a major question for the Mets as the deadline approaches. The canceled rehab appearance adds another delay and makes it less likely he’ll be activated from the 60-day IL before the August 3 deadline.
Even so, an injury doesn’t automatically take Holmes off the trade board. Teams could still be willing to take a shot if they like what they see in his rehab work. DiComo pointed to last summer’s trade that sent Shane Bieber from the Guardians to the Blue Jays, with Cleveland landing pitching prospect Khal Stephen even though Bieber had not pitched since April 2024 after Tommy John surgery.
If the Mets decide to move Holmes, they should still be able to get some kind of meaningful return. He is in the second year of a three-year, $38MM deal, but he is expected to opt out of the final season and test free agency, even after spending more than two months on the IL.
That makes him a rental in practical terms, which naturally trims what clubs will be willing to offer. At the same time, Holmes has said he likes playing in Queens and wants to talk about an extension, so the Mets are expected to explore that path while also listening to trade interest.
The move to starting pitching raised eyebrows when the Mets made it, but it has worked. Holmes put up a 3.53 ERA over 165 2/3 innings in 2025, then followed that with a 2.39 ERA in his first 52 2/3 innings of 2026 before Jones’ comebacker changed the picture. His strikeout rate has dropped sharply as a starter, but he has kept the ball on the ground at a 55.8% clip across 2025-26 and has allowed just 17 home runs in New York.
For Chicago, a healthy Holmes would fit right into the kind of upgrade the club may be chasing. Davis Martin and Sean Burke have given the White Sox strong work at the top of the rotation, while Anthony Kay, Erick Fedde, and rookie Noah Schultz have produced more uneven results. The Sox are short on proven depth in the rotation and bullpen, which makes those two areas the likeliest targets as the deadline nears.
Back in early June, GM Chris Getz said the club’s attention was still on the big picture in what was supposed to be a rebuilding season, but he also made it clear the standings would matter. “ we know where we are in the standings, both within the division and Wild Card, and we’re monitoring it….if there’s chances to really add to this group, we’re going to do that.” Since then, Chicago has kept winning, and that makes a move more likely even if the front office doesn’t go on a full deadline shopping spree.
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal recently reported that the White Sox “are willing to be relatively aggressive on players under club control, but are not inclined to overpay for rentals, according to a person briefed on their plans.” Holmes doesn’t quite fit that cleanly because of the opt-out possibility, which could make Chicago hesitate if the Mets push the price too high. With several teams involved and his health still unsettled, other pitchers may end up being more realistic targets for the White Sox, but Holmes is clearly on the list.
In Other News...
Guardians Trade Deadline Pressure Just Spiked After Brutal Outfield Update
The Guardians outfield depth took another hit this week when CJ Kayfus, a prospect who had been part of the clubs fallback plan, was forced out of the picture after ankle surgery. Kayfus had recently been optioned to Triple-A, but his presence still mattered as a potential next man up if injuries or inconsistency thinned out the major league group again.
Now the front office has a tougher read on what it can afford to wait out as the trade deadline approaches. Losing Kayfus as a minor-league safety net does not just trim one name from the depth chart, it sharpens the need to consider outside help, and Cleveland may have to decide sooner rather than later whether to add another outfielder or trust the internal shuffle a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians May Have Finally Found Their Right-Handed Bat Fix
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The appeal is obvious, but so is the price. Any deal would likely hinge on how aggressively the Reds value their player and how willing Cleveland is to part with minor league depth to get it done, which is the kind of trade-off the front office has to weigh carefully this time of year. For now, it remains a fit worth watching because it checks the one box the Guardians have been chasing, even if the path to making it happen is still murky. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians May Have Quietly Let Another Promising Outfield Bat Slip Away
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He is already back in game action with High-A Jersey Shore, which gives Philadelphia a chance to see whether there is still more to unlock. For Cleveland, it is another reminder of how quickly a developmental path can change, especially when injuries start to chip away at the progress a young hitter has made. [Read more 🡒]