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 title that everyone was anticipating.
No, it was not outfielder Juan Soto (who the Mets are within the working 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 virtually 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 search out consistency it doesn’t matter what position he was utilized in. He was finally traded to the Yankees in 2021 and virtually instantly turned probably the most efficient reduction pitchers in baseball.
He spent the previous three seasons because the Yankees nearer, however he struggled mightily this season.
Going from that position, the place he may 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 likely be an enchanting experiment to look at unfold, he definitely has the stuff to make it work and elite pitches that would play nicely as a starter.
If he fails as a starter? It shouldn’t be a problem for the Mets to place him again within the bullpen and let him return into a task the place he has excelled in recent times.
