There were more offseason moves from the Mets as they signed right-handed pitcher Clay Holmes to a three-year, $38 Million deal on Friday, pending a physical.
Welcome to Queens, Clay Holmes! pic.twitter.com/oz7iW6teYQ
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) December 7, 2024
The 31-year-old struggled as a closer for the Yankees but is expected to shift to a starting role for the first time since 2018 with his new team. During the 2024 regular season, he appeared in 67 games and pitched to a 3.14 ERA over 63 IP with 30 saves. Holmes proved to have some gas left in the tank through the Yankees’ postseason run, putting up a 2.24 ERA with five scoreless appearances in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Perhaps with a few tweaks in the pitching lab and a brand-new beard, he’ll find a dominant resurgence like that of fellow Yankee-turned-Met Luis Severino.
He’ll join Kodak Senga, David Peterson, new addition Frankie Montas, Tylor Megill, and Paul Blackburn in the rotation for 2025. While joining as a starter, it’s worth mentioning that he would also be a great late-relief setup man for Mets closer Edwin Diaz.
The Mets plan to use Clay Holmes as a starting pitcher, per multiple reports.
Here is how their rotation could look in 2025 👀 pic.twitter.com/paDgCk6AB9
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) December 7, 2024
Big Picture
Mets executive David Stearns has been strategic in his offseason approach with some short-term signings, especially with the additions to the pitching staff. It’s no secret the build is around the potential franchise-altering signing of Juan Soto and possibly bringing back Pete Alonso long-term. The Mets will likely be significant contenders to land highly coveted pitcher Roki Sasaki, who is expected to be posted at the Winter Meetings.
Mets fans are discussing why Stearns has opted to sign “smaller” pitchers on rather inflated contracts when highly sought-after arms are still available in the free-agent market. Advanced scouting has evidently noticed something worth developing in these particular additions, putting their state-of-the-art pitching lab to use.
Molding Clay
The Mets’ pitching lab is supposedly comprised of a multitude of analytical data-producing mechanisms like high-speed cameras and motion-sensor technologies to pinpoint specific issues in pitching mechanics. The ability to diagnose seemingly microscopic inconsistencies in one of the fastest joint motions the human body can perform allows the pitcher to adjust accordingly to correct the uncovered issue, all while maintaining confidence and consistency in what doesn’t need tweaking.
Consider Sean Manaea’s mid-season change in mechanics. He started quite rocky, but after a slight drop in his arm slot, he dominated the second half and emerged as the Mets’ ace. There’s far too much to be said about fine-tuning in the art of pitching, but knowing Stearns’ incredible eye for potential alludes to an intention of getting these new signs in the lab.
