The New York Mets are a team that was expected to be competitive in 2026 after adding several key players to their roster, including Freddy Peralta and Bo Bichette. However, the season has not gone well for them up to this point.
The Mets are 15-25 and off to their worst start since 2001, when they also started off 15-25. They are already buried in the National League East, 12 1/2 games behind the Atlanta Braves.
While there is a lot of talent on the roster, it may not be long before the Mets decide to throw in the towel on 2026 and sell at the trade deadline. One of the pieces they could look to move is right-hander Clay Holmes who is off to a hot start this season.
Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report lists Holmes as a trade candidate that the Mets should sell high on.
“The Mets signed Clay Holmes to a two-year, $26 million deal prior to the 2025 season, hoping he could be the latest reliever-turned-starter success story as they took an outside-the-box approach to building their rotation,” Reuter writes.
“He is headed for free agency next season, provided he opts against exercising a $12 million player option, making him an obvious trade candidate for the struggling Mets. With a 1.86 ERA that ranks second among qualified NL starters, his stock may never be higher.”
Clay Holmes Could Be Top Trade Candidate
In addition to having the third-best ERA in the National League, he is 4-3 in his first eight starts of the season. Few relievers can successfully transition to the starting rotation. The best example of someone who has is Adam Wainwright, and Holmes has certainly made the transition seamless.
He is essentially a starter that is on an expiring contract, which should make him a very interesting trade candidate if the Mets keep slumping and end up selling at the trade deadline.
The Mets could get a lot for him, as rental starting pitching always seems to come in high demand at the deadline. New York could use some prospects, and instead of trying to trade them, adding more to their mix would allow them to set themselves up well for the future and possibly even get back into contention by 2027.
It remains to be seen what Holmes will ultimately do with his player option. If he continues to dominate the way he has been, then it makes sense for him to not exercise it and return to free agency. His dominance also is a good reason for the Mets to trade him.
Mets Buried After Slow Start
While there is still a lot of time left in the season, the Mets seem to have already dug their own grave. In addition to their big hole in the NL East, they are eight games back in the wild card race. They also have the worst record in the entire National League.
It would take a miracle for the Mets to turn things around and get to the postseason. Right now, their hopes appear to be quite slim.
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