MLB Rumors: NL Team Linked to Trade for Mets' Clay Holmes
They are 15-25 and last in the National League East.
Injuries to Juan Soto and Luis Robert Jr. have contributed.
Disappointing production from Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, and other free agent acquisitions has made things worse.
And now the conversation that was almost unthinkable in spring training is picking up volume: the Mets may need to be sellers at the August 3 trade deadline.
If that happens, Clay Holmes becomes the most coveted arm on the market.
Robert Murray of FanSided was one of the first to name Holmes as an early trade candidate, writing that if the Mets are out of contention by July, Holmes and his sub-2.00 ERA would be one of the most intriguing options on the entire deadline market.
What Holmes Has Done
The former Yankees reliever-turned-starter has been one of the best pitchers in baseball through the first eight starts of his 2026 campaign.
He carries a 4-3 record with a 1.86 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP, and 37 strikeouts across his eight outings, ranking in the 98th percentile in pitching run value on Statcast.
Clay Holmes could draw plenty of interest if the Mets continue to struggle, says @ByRobertMurray. pic.twitter.com/yJ2KhR0EaJ
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) May 14, 2026
His transition from one of the league's premier relief arms to a legitimate starting pitcher has been exactly what the Mets hoped for when they signed him to a three-year, $38 million deal in the 2024 offseason.
Since joining New York, Holmes has posted a 3.15 ERA across 208.1 innings and struck out batters at a career-best rate.
The 6-foot-5 right-hander generates elite groundball rates and has shown the ability to work deep into games without relying on high pitch counts.
Why the Trade Makes Sense on Both Sides
Holmes carries a two-year, $26 million deal that runs through this season, with a $12 million player option for 2027 that he is widely expected to decline given his production.
That makes him a rental in practical terms even if he technically has an option year remaining.
Rental starting pitchers with sub-2.00 ERAs do not come available often, and the return the Mets could command would be significant.
The Cubs are the most frequently cited destination, given their need for rotation depth following Cade Horton's season-ending injury and Matthew Boyd's absence.
Clay Holmes, 2Ks in the 5th pic.twitter.com/GuDzaAM8WT
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 29, 2026
Other contenders with rotation needs would undoubtedly enter the bidding if Holmes were made available.
The Mets have not announced any intention to sell, and David Stearns has said consistently that the plan is to compete and that it is still early.
But with the offense ranked dead last in baseball in production and the standings showing little sign of movement, the Holmes conversation is going to get louder every week the Mets do not win.
Photo Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
