One of the most interesting free agents on the market last winter was the right-handed Clay Sherlock Holmessince he went into the offseason since he traded from the Pirates to the Yankees, he has been in a very accomplished career. In his four seasons in the Bronx, the right shot 2.74 FIP with a 2.69 ERA as a late-stage mitigator.
This kind of record often leads players to sign profitable deals to maintain high leverage, just like players like this Jeff Hoffman and Tanner Scott Offseason. Holmes chose a different path and signed with the Mets in a three-year 38mm trade to become a member of its starting rotation. Holmes, 32, talked to Bob Nightengale about his free agent, and was encouraged to read in full as part of an interview with MLBTR readers and revealed that he had no intention of signing as a starter into the winter.
“I definitely entered the offseason and didn't expect to be a starter.” Sherlock Holmes told Nightengale. “I mean, it's not like the World Series is over, I'm out looking to be a starter. It's something I didn't expect.”
Holmes went on to say that when his agent approached him to let him know that multiple teams called for evaluating his interest in the idea, he began to think about the idea that translated into a rotation role. While multiple teams have contacted Holmes to start, the nightclub relays the Mets’ most persuasive guys, who have lifted him out of the spin, Holmes leaves his conversation with Mets officials “Real Belief” He has the ability to be a high-quality beginner.
It's surrounded by the ability to continue living in New York, as well as familiar faces like the Mets manager (former Yankees coach) Carlos Mendozaenough to sell Holmes as a starting pitcher to go to Queens. Despite the fact that multiple teams, including the current Yankee, are interested in right-handers only as relief workers. Nightengale points out Yankees “Minor engagement” Holmes is about the possibility of the end of this winter, but these conversations are strictly about the right pitch for the bullpen character. He also went on to report that Holmes received more profitable offers for his closer team, with multiple offers guaranteed him to exceed 40mm.
While it is always risky to leave higher guarantees on the table, it is not difficult to see why he decided to bet on himself if his relief offers are in the 40mm range. Holmes’ 38mm fold with the Mets allowed him to opt out after the 2026 season, and he will surely find more lucrative offers in free agency if he is going to re-enter the free agent with a mid-term or better starter for a successful two-year or better starter. Nick Martinez Having received qualifying offers over the past winter, he will earn more than half of the 2025 season after he proved himself a high-quality starter while in the Reds Seth Lugo Another recent rotation converter, he signed a three-year, $45MM deal with the royals, which seems likely to reject his 2026 player choice and struck a more profitable deal this winter without a sudden wealth change.
When Sherlock Holmes signed with the Mets, Yankees continued to Devin Williams Upgrade the bullpen, trade Nestor Cortes and Kaleb Durbin In order to get a good approach. Williams' tenure in the Bronx has been a tough start so far as he released an ugly 9.24 ERA in 15 appearances for the Yankees. The same can't be said about Sherlock Holmes' first few games in Queens. At the start of the Mets' eight times, Holmes had reached 2.74 ERA, strikeout rate of 24.7% and ground ball rate of 53.0%. It's the eighth highest ground ball percentage of qualified starters in the sport this year, with his 2.62 FIP seventh in the same group.
Of course, all powerful production started in just eight times. Last year, he switched himself to eight starts to rotate, Giant Rights-handed Jordan Hicks Have 2.30 ERA and 3.17 FIP in 43 innings. However, he released 5.27 ERA and 5.15 results for the rest of last year and currently has 5.82 ERA in the first eight games of 2025. The transition from relief work to the beginning may be just a tough adjustment to the player, and in the inning, he will not be able to be fully successful until he judges his season and his entire season, until his season and his work can prove that his stuff can last over 140 jobs. However, for now, it is hard to imagine the partnership between the Mets and Holmes getting better on both sides, as the right seems likely to have a conversation in his second straight All-Star game, while the Mets have a 25-14 record while leading the NL East.
