Mets Sign Two-Time All-Star RHP Clay Holmes

FLUSHING, N.Y., December 9, 2024 – The New York Mets today announced that the club has signed RHP Clay Holmes to a three-year major league contract with a player opt out after the 2026 season.

“We’re excited to bring Clay into the organization and collaborate on his transition to the starting rotation,” said President of Baseball Operations David Stearns. “Clay has an elite repertoire, knows New York, and will be a key contributor going forward.”

Holmes, 31, owns a career mark of 24-22 with 74 saves, a 3.71 ERA (139 ER/337.1 IP) along with 153 walks and 360 strikeouts across 311 major league games (four starts) with the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates.

He was named an All-Star for the second time in his career last season, finishing with a career-high 30 saves – the eighth-most in the majors, along with a 3-5 mark and a 3.14 ERA (22 ER/63.0 IP), 22 walks and 68 strikeouts with the Yankees.

Holmes posted a 65.0% ground ball rate last season, which was second in the majors among pitchers with at least 50.0 innings. He was one of four pitchers in the majors with a groundball percentage of 60% or more and a strikeout percentage of 25% or more last season. Over the last three years, he has posted a 68.6% ground ball percentage, which is the best in the majors.

The right-handed pitcher was an All-Star for the first time in 2022. He appeared in 62 games with the Yankees and went 7-4 with a 2.54 ERA (18 ER/63.2 IP), 20 saves, 20 walks and 65 strikeouts.

He has started four games in the majors and has made 114 starts in the minor leagues. In a total of 134 minor league games, Holmes has posted a record of 42-29 with a 3.63 ERA (236 ER/584.1 IP), 285 walks and 474 strikeouts.

The 6-5, 245-pounder was originally selected in the ninth round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of the Slocomb High School in Alabama.