The Dodgers are heading toward the Aug. 3 trade deadline with a familiar kind of flexibility: they do not need to chase a splash, but they still have room to make one if the right arm comes along.
One name now tied to Los Angeles is Clay Holmes, the veteran right-hander from the Mets. ESPN MLB insiders Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan gave Holmes a 90% chance of being moved, and listed the Dodgers among the best fits.
Holmes has barely been on the field this season, appearing in just nine games after suffering a fractured right fibula in mid-May. He has since begun a rehab assignment and could be back in the majors soon.
Even with the limited workload, Holmes has put up strong numbers. He owns a 2.39 ERA and has struck out 45 batters over 52.2 innings.
The Mets are out of the playoff race and are expected to sell, which puts Holmes among the more attractive arms available. His path to this point has been a winding one: he moved into a starting role after signing with New York ahead of the 2025 season and made 31 starts a year ago. Before that, he was one of the Yankees’ most reliable late-inning weapons, piling up 74 saves from 2022-24.
For the Dodgers, the appeal is obvious. They could use help in the bullpen or in the rotation, especially with injuries hitting the staff. Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani all have uncertain return timelines, and Holmes could help bridge that gap.
He could also slide in as the sixth starter for the rest of the season, particularly with trade chatter surrounding left-hander Eric Lauer. Then, once October arrives, his bullpen background would give Dave Roberts another option to lean on.
The other part of the equation is cost. Holmes looks like the kind of addition that could strengthen the Dodgers without forcing them to empty the farm system, which makes him a clean fit for a team that is trying to stay dangerous without overcommitting.
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