The New York Mets didn’t just sign Clay Holmes for his dominant sinker. They bet $38 million that he could reinvent himself entirely.
Holmes, the former Yankees closer, has embarked on one of the biggest career gambles in recent memory: transitioning from a reliever to a starting pitcher. It’s a move that few attempt and even fewer master, but Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns believes Holmes has the tools—and the mentality—to pull it off.
“Clay came into this with a plan, and he’s followed it to a T,” Stearns said in a recent interview posted by SNY on YouTube. “He’s proving right now that he can make this work.”
That confidence doesn’t come out of nowhere. The Mets watched firsthand as former Yankee Michael King successfully made the leap to the Padres’ rotation last year, and they saw how the Padres unlocked starter potential in Seth Lugo before that. Holmes, like King and Lugo, never lost his hunger to start. Now, he’s getting his shot.
Holmes’ biggest weapon has always been his bowling-ball sinker, which regularly touched 98-100 mph in one-inning stints. But as a starter, velocity alone won’t cut it. He’s already begun dialing it back to 94-95 mph, focusing on command and movement rather than pure power.
“The big thing is realizing you don’t need 98,” King said. “You can save that for the fifth or sixth inning when you really need it.”
More importantly, Holmes is expanding his arsenal. His changeup, once an afterthought, has quickly become a legitimate weapon. King was particularly impressed with how polished it already looked, a testament to Holmes’ ability to absorb new-school pitching concepts and translate them into results.
“He’s the type who can take all the new-school teaching and add it to his game,” King said.
Holmes isn’t alone in making this leap, and David Stearns sees the trend loud and clear. Teams are getting better at fine-tuning pitchers—teaching new grips, refining mechanics, and expanding arsenals. With starters rarely going deep into games anymore, why not turn a dominant reliever into a five- or six-inning weapon?
“The way we use starters has changed,” Stearns said. “If a reliever can add a third or fourth pitch and build endurance, he can be a real asset in the rotation.”
Holmes is stepping into uncharted territory, but in today’s game, the line between reliever and starter is blurrier than ever. If he can bridge that gap, he won’t just redefine his own career—he might help reshape how teams build their rotations.
Will the gamble pay off? What’s at stake for the Mets?
The Mets aren’t just testing out Clay Holmes—they are rolling the dice on a transition that could redefine their rotation. If Holmes can successfully convert, he gives the Mets a budget-friendly option with a frontline upside, reducing the need for blockbuster signings or trades. His ability to induce ground balls at an elite rate could help him eat innings and protect a bullpen that was already under strain last season. If this move works, it further legitimizes the growing trend of repurposing relievers into starters, proving that teams can maximize value through in-house development.
But it’s not without risks. Holmes has no track record of handling a starter’s workload at the major league level. His sinker has thrived in short stints, where he can unleash it at 97-100 mph, but as a starter, he’ll need to sustain effectiveness at 93-95 mph over multiple innings. His secondary pitches, especially his evolving changeup, will be tested against hitters who get multiple looks at him in a game. If he struggles, the Mets’ rotation depth could take a hit, forcing them to lean heavily on a bullpen that isn’t built to carry that burden.
Another concern? The sinker itself. The pitch is Holmes’ bread and butter, but its effectiveness is partially tied to his velocity. If the pitch flattens out at lower speeds or loses its elite movement over extended innings, Holmes could find himself in no man’s land—not overpowering enough to dominate hitters early, not durable enough to be a true workhorse.
The Mets are banking on Holmes’ adaptability, work ethic, and the success of others who have made this leap before. The $38 million question is whether this gamble turns into a blueprint for success—or a cautionary tale of a transition that never clicked.
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