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4 NY Mets offseason decisions we didn't expect would look so good by Memorial Day

Nobody likely had these things happening by Memorial Day on their NY Mets bingo card.
ByNoah Wright|
May 14, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Clay Holmes (35) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
May 14, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Clay Holmes (35) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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The New York Mets have done pretty well so far this season. Their .604 winning percentage is tied with the Chicago Cubs and the LA Dodgers for the second-best in the National League and tied for the fourth-best across all MLB. Unfortunately, the Philadelphia Phillies are one of the three teams ahead of them in winning percentage. Still, the Mets have gotten plenty of strong performances thus far. Many expected Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, Kodai Senga, and Juan Soto to be big producers. But nobody likely saw these developments become a reality by Memorial Day.

1) Clay Holmes is an effective starting pitcher

Clay Holmes spent parts of the previous four seasons as a highly effective member of the New York Yankees' bullpen, saving 74 games while posting a 2.69 ERA (154 ERA+), 2.74 FIP, and 1.12 WHIP in 217.2 frames. Going into the last offseason, MLB Trade Rumors ranked him as the third-best free agent reliever on their top 50 free agents list. However, when the Mets picked up Holmes in early December, they didn't pick him up to set up games for incumbent closer Edwin Diaz. Instead, they signed him as a starting pitcher.

Holmes wasn't entirely unfamiliar with working as a starter. From 2012 through 2018, as a prospect in the Pittsburgh Pirates system, Holmes made a combined 90 starts with only seven appearances out of the pen. He also made four starts in the Major Leagues during 2018. But this was Holmes' only work as a starting pitcher in the bigs. The Mets were taking a serious gamble relying on Holmes as a starter.

However, that gamble has paid off tremendously. Holmes has tossed 54.2 innings, all out of the Mets' starting rotation, while pitching to a 3.13 ERA, 3.59 FIP, and 1.24 WHIP. He has a respectable 23.1% K% and 8.8% walk rate and a 0.82 HR/9 ratio. Holmes has always been great at inducing ground balls, and his 53% GB% is the eighth-best among all qualified starters. This has helped him post a 7.2% barrel rate, which is in the 63rd percentile of all pitchers in baseball.

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