The Mets already tried Clay Holmes as a starter, and the bet paid off. That’s why a reunion this offseason makes plenty of sense.
When New York signed Holmes to a three-year, $38 million deal in December 2024, the plan was to turn a longtime reliever into a rotation piece. It was a swing worth taking, even if it came with real skepticism. Holmes had only six career starts entering 2025 and hadn’t started a game since 2018 with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The results were hard to ignore. In 33 games, including 31 starts, Holmes went 12-8 with a 3.53 ERA across a career-high 165.2 innings in 2025.
He carried that momentum into 2026, too, opening the year with a fast burst that made him the Mets’ best starter. Through his first four outings, he had the tenth-best ERA in the National League at 2.39.
That run stopped abruptly on May 15 against the New York Yankees, when Holmes was struck on the right leg by a comebacker and suffered a fractured right fibula. The injury knocked him out until August.
New York then moved on at the deadline, sending Holmes and Tyrone Taylor to the Chicago Cubs on August 3 for infielder prospect Jefferson Rojas when the club became a seller. Holmes finished the regular season with Chicago, making nine starts and posting a 2-4 record with a 4.25 ERA.
Even after that trade, the fit between Holmes and the Mets still looks obvious. The club needs starting pitching, and Holmes is a realistic name to circle.
One big factor is his contract. Holmes is widely expected to opt out of the final year of the three-year deal he signed with the Mets in search of a larger payday. If that happens, New York should be ready to bring him back.
Chelsea Janes of SNY.tv reported on Monday about Holmes that "people familiar with his thinking say he is open to a return to the Mets if the right deal is offered."
The numbers back up why he’d be attractive. Holmes held right-handed hitters to a .198 batting average and a .528 OPS in the regular season, while lefties hit just .225 against him. He also showed he could work deep into games, going six innings or more in five starts this season.
The Mets’ rotation situation only adds to the case. They are expected to add at least one starter when the offseason begins, and the near locks for the 2027 rotation are Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, and Zac Thornton. Sean Manaea could fight for the fourth spot, but the rest of the picture is still unsettled.
That uncertainty matters because New York starters averaged just 4.88 innings per outing in the regular season, the lowest mark in baseball. That simply won’t hold up.
Holmes would help there right away. He knows the organization, he’s already proven he can handle the job, and he wouldn’t need much time to get reacquainted with the Mets’ environment.
If he does opt out and the Mets get serious, Holmes could land a five-year deal worth more than $50 million. New York is expected to chase other top free-agent starters as well, including Tarik Skubal, but Holmes stands out as a strong fallback option because of his history with the team and what he already showed as a Mets starter.
With the rotation still needing help and three young arms already in place, it wouldn’t be a shock if Clay Holmes is back in a Mets uniform in 2027.
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