The closer role is a designation hard to come by. New York Yankees and right-handed reliever Clay Holmes worked their way around where Holmes would fit in best. The right-hander’s commitment to the Yankees has come to an end as he enters free agency, and he will seek a home for 2025 and possibly a more concrete designation.
Holmes has held the role of the Yankees closer for the past few seasons. The beginning of his tenure as the closer was impressive and the longevity seemed promising. He was awarded the spot in 2022 as a test run, his second season with the Yankees. That year, Holmes put up an All-Star season, recording 20 saves with five blown saves and a 2.54 ERA. In 2023 Holmes saved 24 games with only three blown saves and a 2.86 ERA.
After two sharp seasons in the closer role, what happened in the 2024 season?
Yankees Ex-Closer Clay Holmes to Test the Waters in Free Agency
A Rough 2024
Numerically, in one sense, Holmes did experience another “successful” season as the closer. The right-hander began the season as the Yankees’ trusted late-game stopper. He was also named to the 2024 All-Star team.
Cumulatively, Holmes put up some impressive numbers. He ranked eighth among all 30 closers in the major leagues. Holmes pitched in 67 games this season, working 63 innings and pinning 30 saves to his belt.
To the naked eye, this looks amazing for a big-league closer. The flip side to this was 13 blown saves, leading MLB. His save percentage totaled 69.8%.
Holmes Didn’t Cut It as Closer
With the blown save factor and multiple further measurements, Yankees management decided in mid-September that Holmes would not be their guy in a save situation. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that the closer role would be a day-by-day decision.
With a small dose of regular season success, the Yankees established right-hander Luke Weaver to assume the closer role in the postseason, moving Holmes to middle relief. Despite 74 saves in three seasons, there is a bigger picture with Clay Holmes. Composure is one of those factors. His ability to handle game-on-the-line pressure was not always there in 2024.
Holmes’ success as a closer has been evident, but adaptability from hitters has also been evident. His velocity has been satisfactory at a max of 97 mph on his four-seam fastball and 96 on his sinker. Unfortunately, he’s capped there, and it leads to pitching to contact rather than swings and misses.
Holmes’ has a four-pitch mix with good options, but his fastball command and velocity do not cut it. He has no confidence in his fastball to begin with, as it’s his least-used pitch option.
Clay Holmes in the Free Agency Market
The right-hander has found his niche as a short/mid reliever. He averaged about 1 1/3 innings in the relief spot mid-game in the postseason. Holmes has good match-up-type stuff that can be used for a hitter or two, even an inning or two if necessary. Holmes went 3-1 this postseason, working 12 innings and posting a 2.25 ERA.
The former Yankees closer could fit well in any bullpen in the division. The Toronto Blue Jays are awaiting the return of their closer Jordan Romano. Between Chad Green and Holmes in the set-up role, or Holmes as the backup closer, this makes for a stronger Jays bullpen.
The Baltimore Orioles can use an arm of closer and setup-type quality. Holmes would fit in well to prepare the late innings for Orioles right-hander Félix Bautista. The Boston Red Sox may be shopping for a closer, as Kenley Jansen is also a free agent.
The righty reliever made $6,050,000 in 2024 and avoided arbitration. His ideal contract would probably read two-year $10 million.
Holmes will be a good sign at one to two years, on a trial period within the bullpen. As for returning to the Yankees, Holmes has already displayed his contributions in the Bronx. He may not be in the plans for the 2025 Yankees roster.
