Sat Dec 07 01:10:00 UTC 2024: **Mets Sign Reliever Clay Holmes to Three-Year, $38 Million Deal**
**New York, NY –** The New York Mets have agreed to a three-year, $38 million contract with right-handed pitcher Clay Holmes, pending a physical, according to reports from Joel Sherman of the New York Post and Jeff Passan of ESPN. The deal includes an opt-out clause after the second season.
While Holmes has primarily served as a reliever throughout his career, beginning in 2018, the Mets reportedly intend to utilize him as a starter. This represents a significant gamble for the team, given Holmes’ lack of starting experience. MLB Trade Rumors previously projected a three-year, $30 million deal for the pitcher, indicating the Mets may have overpaid slightly in a competitive market.
The signing comes as the Mets aggressively reshape their pitching rotation. Fan reaction to the deal is mixed, with some expressing optimism about the team’s strategy and others questioning the decision to place Holmes in a starting role. The move has also sparked speculation regarding the Mets’ involvement in other free agent pursuits.
The opt-out clause provides Holmes with flexibility, allowing him to re-enter the market after two seasons if he does not perform as a starter. The Mets, however, appear confident in their assessment of his potential in the rotation. Only time will tell if this move proves to be a shrewd acquisition or a costly miscalculation.
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