Clay Holmes’ interest in being a starter led him to sign with Mets
DALLAS — Clay Holmes had long wanted an opportunity for a return to his roots as a starting pitcher. The Mets were willing to provide that opportunity.
On Tuesday, a day after the right-hander’s signing to a three-year contract worth $38 million became official, president of baseball operations David Stearns said he spoke with Holmes’ camp last month and received the starting proposal.
“I said, ‘Yeah, I think that’s possible and we’re going to do a lot more work on that’ — and we did,” Stearns said at the Winter Meetings.
It led to discussions between Holmes and pitching coach Jeremy Hefner in addition to evaluations from the team’s medical staff about how such a transition would progress.
“We all came away believing this is a real possibility and we can get this player to a point where he’s going to be a very good major league starter,” Stearns said. “[Holmes] was very motivated to do that.”
Holmes, 31, last started during his rookie 2018 season with the Pirates.
Last season he appeared in 67 games in relief for the Yankees and pitched to a 3.14 ERA.
Holmes had 13 blown saves and was removed from the closer’s role late in the season.
“We believe he’s a starter and if for some reason that doesn’t work out we know he’s an effective reliever,” Stearns said. “But he is coming here because he wants to start.”
Stearns said the Mets’ plan is to employ a six-man rotation most of the time next season — the exception would be instances when the team has multiple days off in a week.
Such an arrangement will ensure that Kodai Senga receives at least five days’ rest following each start.
Senga, who appeared in only one game during the last regular season because of injuries, is home in Japan and a “healthy player who is progressing through the offseason,” according to Stearns.
Team owner Steve Cohen is selling two of the organization’s minor league affiliates, the club announced, but the Mets will remain affiliated with both.
Diamond Baseball Holdings entered agreement to purchase the Syracuse Mets (Triple-A) and Brooklyn Cyclones (Single-A) from Cohen Private Ventures.