Clay Holmes Declines Option and Enters Free Agency
Clay Holmes declined his $12 million player option for 2027 on November 3, entering MLB free agency after pitching for the Cubs and Mets. New York could pursue a reunion as it looks for starting pitching.
Holmes, 33, turned down his player option after a season split between the Mets and Cubs. New York traded the right-hander to Chicago at the deadline, and he is now eligible to sign with any team as a free agent.
The Mets signed Holmes to a three-year, $38 million deal after the 2024 season. After working as a Yankees reliever, he moved into the starting rotation. In 2025, he posted a 3.53 ERA with 129 strikeouts over 165⅔ innings.
Holmes began this season with a 2.39 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 52⅔ innings across nine Mets starts. He fractured his fibula on a comebacker in his final start for New York, against the Yankees on May 15. He made his Cubs debut on August 8 and finished his Chicago stint with a 4.25 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 48⅔ innings over nine starts.
In the trade, the Mets also sent outfielder Tyrone Taylor to Chicago and received infielder Jefferson Rojas. The 21-year-old became the organization’s top prospect, according to MLB.com. He hit .280 with a .929 on-base-plus-slugging mark, alongside nine homers and 29 RBIs over 29 games at Double-A Binghamton, then went 8-for-26 with three homers and seven RBIs in six Triple-A games.
New York is expected to seek starting pitching this winter, leaving open the possibility that Holmes could return. The Mets are also expected to pursue Tarik Skubal, who could command a contract worth more than $300 million, while Michael King is another potential target.