If Clay Holmes brought one thing to his Mets introductory Zoom press conference today, it was the same thing that has defined his career: sinking stuff. Not just his sinker—which probably has its own gravitational pull by now—but also the kind of grounded, no-nonsense vibe that made you think, “Hey, this guy might just survive the Mets’ spotlight.” On the surface, Holmes checks all the boxes: 6-foot-5, Alabama tough, a two-time All-Star, and the owner of a ground ball rate that would make an earthworm jealous. But the real story here isn’t just the stats. It’s the Mets’ intriguing plan to pluck Holmes from the Yankees bullpen, toss him into the starting rotation, and see if they can turn their new Clay into a rock-solid foundation. It’s a move bold enough to make Mets fans raise an eyebrow—or maybe even dare to feel optimistic for a change.
During press conference, Clay Holmes shared his thoughts on his new role with the New York Mets, marking a significant transition from a dominant reliever to a starting pitcher. The move has been years in the making, with Holmes revealing that the idea of starting had always lingered in the back of his mind throughout his career. "Even way back at the end of 2020, there was some interest in me starting overseas, and that idea excited me," he reflected.
Holmes explained how the shift began to gain traction late in the 2023 season. During bullpen sessions, he experimented with pitches like a four-seam fastball and changeup, initially as a way to keep things lighthearted. However, he soon realized the potential of his expanded arsenal. "I started to see what could come of it," he said. "Toward the end of the year, the idea became more serious, and early in the offseason, a few teams expressed interest. The Mets' vision made me feel this was the right place to explore this opportunity."
Holmes emphasized that his decision to pursue starting stemmed from a desire to look back on his career without regret. "I didn’t want to wonder what could have been," he admitted. "This opportunity excites me, and I’m thankful to the Mets for believing in me." Staying in New York was another bonus, as Holmes felt a strong connection to the city and the Mets organization.
When asked about his offseason preparations, Holmes elaborated on the development of his four-seam fastball and changeup. "The four-seam isn’t the best pitch on paper, but with how hitters respect my sinker, it creates some room for it. The changeup started as an experiment but evolved into something legitimate," he said. Holmes credited new Mets assistant pitching coach Desi Druschel, who had worked with him previously, for inspiring confidence in the process. "Desi brings so much to the table, especially in pitch design and workload management. I’m thrilled to work with him again."
The Mets' leadership also played a pivotal role in Holmes’ decision. He praised the organization's culture and commitment to player development under owner Steve Cohen, president David Stearns, and manager Carlos Mendoza. "Their vision and belief in what I can do were incredibly appealing," he said. Holmes singled out pitching coach Jeremy Hefner and Druschel as key influences, adding, "They’ve given me confidence that this transition won’t be something I have to face alone."
A critical component of Holmes’ journey will be managing the increased workload as a starter. He expressed confidence in the Mets' training staff, noting the proactive steps they’ve already taken to ensure his durability. "My goal is to throw 160 innings or more," Holmes declared. "It’s about monitoring my body, staying in a good spot, and working with the team to safely maximize my innings."
Holmes also touched on the excitement of reuniting with former teammate Juan Soto, who recently joined the Mets. "Juan defines consistency, especially with the bat," he said. "Deep down, I hoped he’d see me coming here and follow suit. I’m pumped to play with him again."
Clay Holmes is gearing up for life as a Mets starter, and if you think he's losing sleep over it, you’d be wrong. He’s got Francisco Lindor and a Gold Glove-caliber infield backing him up, which is kind of like being a trapeze artist with a very big, very reliable net.
“Lindor is special out there. I’ve seen it for a while,” Holmes said, clearly in awe. “To have him behind me—along with the rest of the dynamic group—gives me that much more confidence and trust, especially as a sinkerballer. Knowing I’ve got guys with Gold Gloves out there, it’s super exciting to compete with them.”
Translation: throw a sinker, watch it turn into a groundball, and then casually saunter off the mound while Lindor and company do their thing.
But defense isn’t the only reason Holmes is excited about his new role. He’s also embracing the mental side of being a starter—a shift from his relief days, when the job was more like being a fireman rushing into chaos for a couple of key outs. Now, he’s back in the chess match of facing hitters multiple times in a game.
“The biggest difference is facing every hitter two or three times,” Holmes said. “You’ve got to figure out where your strengths match up with theirs and how you can get them out in different ways. That’s where the depth of my arsenal comes into play, and I can get creative.”
If you’re imagining Holmes in a lab coat, scribbling down pitching formulas, you wouldn’t be far off. He’s definitely the thoughtful type. “I’m probably more of a strategic planner-type guy,” Holmes admitted. “The ability to think things through, expand my approach, and use my arsenal to be unpredictable is exciting for me. It’s about finding the right preparation to get hitters out multiple times, and that’s something I’m eager to dive into.”
So while the transition back to starting might seem daunting to some, Holmes looks at it as a perfect fit for his personality. With Lindor vacuuming up grounders behind him and a detailed plan to keep hitters guessing, Holmes is ready to make the most of his new role. Now all that’s left is for Mets fans to sit back and enjoy the show.
Holmes isn’t just switching roles—he’s taking on a whole new chapter armed with grit, brains, and just enough optimism to make even the most jaded Mets fan raise an eyebrow. Whether it’s his sinker turning ground balls into routine outs, his new pitch mix keeping hitters guessing, or his confidence in the Gold Glove crew behind him, Holmes looks ready to sink (in a good way) into the rotation. The Mets are rolling the dice here, but if Holmes’ cool demeanor and strategic smarts are any clue, this could be one New York experiment that actually works. Stranger things have happened.
Here is the complete Press Conference :
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