Yankees, Clay Holmes haven't discussed a contract extension yet
Yankees pitcher Clay Holmes throws during the fourth inning of a spring training game against the Mets on Tuesday in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Credit: Jeff Roberson
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – The Yankees haven’t signed any pending free agents to contract extensions since the ill-fated ones they bestowed upon Luis Severino and Aaron Hicks in 2019.
Neither contract worked out. The Yankees still have about $20 million to go on Hicks’ deal even though they released him last season.
So it’s unlikely the Yankees will sign any of their impending free agents before the end of this season. But if they were to make an exception, would closer Clay Holmes be a candidate?
“We haven’t had any talks at at this stage, so I certainly can't predict,” general manager Brian Cashman told Newsday on Tuesday before Holmes made his spring training debut with a perfect inning (11 pitches, one strikeout) in the Yankees’ 5-4 loss to the Mets at Clover Park.
“But we're really happy he's here,” Cashman said, “and he's one of the better ones in the game, no doubt about it.”
The last player the Yankees even tried to sign before his walk year was Aaron Judge in 2022. That blew up in everyone’s faces when talks broke off acrimoniously before Opening Day. Judge eventually re-signed for nine years and $360 million before the 2023 season.
Even though Cashman insisted “there’s no policy” against the Yankees re-upping a player before he becomes a free agent, it sure seems like there is, especially after the Severino and Hicks fiascos.
The Holmes acquisition, though, is one of Cashman’s best moves over the past few seasons. The Yankees traded minor leaguers Diego Castillo and Hoy Park to Pittsburgh on July 21, 2021, to get Holmes, who at that point had a 5.57 ERA and zero career saves over parts of four seasons with the Pirates.
The Yankees liked Holmes’ sinker. Since he came to the Bronx it has been one of baseball’s best weapons. Holmes, who turns 31 on March 27, is 16-10 with a 2.50 ERA and 44 saves since joining the Yankees. He made the All-Star team in 2022.
Holmes likes being a Yankee. But when asked if he would have his agents reach out to the club to see about a contract extension – something Cashman said has not happened yet – Holmes said: “It's one of the things I really haven't put a ton of thought or attention or any energy towards. I've always dreamed of winning the World Series here in New York and I feel like we have the chance to do that this year. That's kind of where I'm at and I look forward to just this season and that's kind of really where all my mental energy is towards.”
Holmes started his fourth-inning outing with a strikeout of Zack Short. He got Brandon Nimmo on a soft liner to Anthony Volpe (who was mic’d up for the half-inning on ESPN). Starling Marte grounded out to Volpe to end the inning.
“Feel good,” Holmes said. “Feel good. It's good just to feel the game speed and run through the game routine. Just go out there and focus on strike one.”
Said manager Aaron Boone: “He’s our closer. We need him to be great for us to be what we expect to be as a team. So that's our expectation for him. He knows that and he's one of the real dynamic relievers in the game, especially when he really gets a roll, as we've seen over the last few years.”
The Yankees have a recent history of putting together quality bullpens without going for the biggest, most expensive names. Holmes is their highest-paid reliever with a $6 million salary for 2024. Tommy Kahnle is next at $5.75 million.
Another top-notch season will have Holmes in line for a big payday. But will it come from the Yankees?
“Obviously, I love playing for the Yankees,” Holmes said. “I love the guys in the locker room. With that being said, I think it's just enjoy looking forward to this year and seeing where that goes.”
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
