NY Mets are risking a Clay Holmes free agent return by alienating him now

Clay Holmes is getting traded or at least that’s the sensible outcome for him in the next 48+ hours. Still rehabbing, he spoke before Saturday’s New York Mets game against the Miami Marlins and didn’t seem so happy about it.

The NY Post’s Joel Sherman helped explain some of the situation further. By keeping Holmes on his rehab assignment, the Mets are doing more than protecting him from losing some value.

Having not pitched in a major league game since May, the Mets are allowing Holmes’ next team to make a different kind of decision. They can send him somewhere for another start or put him right where he believes he belongs, on a big league field. The downside to this wise planning on behalf of the Mets is it seems to have left a negative feeling around Holmes. Ever since the extension talks were squashed, Holmes has sounded more annoyed with the situation than embraceful.

The risk the Mets are taking is leaving a bad taste in Clay Holmes’ mouth

Will Holmes turn down a new offer from the Mets in the offseason if they send one to him just because he wasn’t thrilled with the lengthy rehab? Throw enough money at him and he’s sure to give in.

Nevertheless, the questionable bedside manner of David Stearns is always a topic for fans to discuss. Stearns has a reputation for being a little too analytical, Pete Alonso apparently calling him out to his face during contract negotiations prior to the 2025 season.

The Mets are doing right by themselves for their handling of Holmes. They shouldn’t toss him onto the field Sunday to risk an injury or even a sloppy performance that lessens the trade return. The cost of potentially alienating a player they’re going to trade is worth it, frankly.

Andy Green, who is more of a front office spokesperson than a manager, stuck with the idea that Holmes needs more rehab. Only 6.1 innings, including 4 innings and 59 pitches on July 28, Holmes can holler that he’s ready when in actuality, if the Mets were in contention, he probably would get one more outing in the minors if the situation allowed for it.

At least Holmes was realistic about what the future holds, unlike Francisco Lindor who sounds more in denial.

The Mets haven’t traded a player at the deadline and re-signed him since Jeurys Familia in 2018. Their wild card with Holmes is to make him a qualifying offer at the season’s end to eliminate a few suitors who don’t want to give up the draft pick compensation. Another element which could simply annoy him, the likelier outcome is he makes his next major league start with a new ball club.

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