The New York Mets have been a disaster to start the 2026 season. After spending nearly $250 million in the offseason, the club has the worst record in the National League. This embarrassing feat comes amid an 11-game losing streak. As Jon Heyman recently pointed out, no team has ever made the playoffs after losing 12 consecutive games. New York will hope to avoid extending the unwanted streak on April 21.
Injuries have certainly hindered the Mets in recent weeks. Superstar Juan Soto has been out of action since April 3. Without the slugger in the lineup, New York is averaging just 3.27 runs per game during the current campaign. This is the lowest figure among all N.L. teams. Nevertheless, the club’s offseason free agency moves are not panning out either.
General manager David Stearns spent big money this winter on revamping his lineup. This included paying Bo Bichette $126 million to play a position he has never played and replacing team legend Pete Alonso with Jorge Polanco. The duo has combined to hit two home runs in 148 at-bats so far this season.
Assuming the Mets continue to decline, they will likely offload a key player or two. Newly acquired ace Freddy Peralta has already been linked with a move away from New York. ESPN’s David Schoenfield is now claiming that Clay Holmes could be offloaded by the club as well. The Mets brought in the former New York Yankees reliever on a three-year, $38 million contract ahead of the 2025 season.
Clay Holmes has Shone for the Struggling New York Mets
GettyClay Holmes is somewhat unlikely to return to New York in 2027.
As Schoenfield points out, Holmes’ contract is not exactly straightforward. The pitcher has a $12 million player option for the 2027 campaign. Because he has been thriving ever since being converted to a starting pitcher, he will likely reject the proposal. If so, Holmes would become a coveted free agent in the upcoming offseason.
Although the Mets have struggled mightily, Holmes has not. In fact, the 33-year-old veteran leads New York’s rotation with a 1.96 ERA through four starts. The pitcher previously picked up a hamstring issue on April 10. The concern, however, was minor, and he was able to make his next start five days later. Holmes gave up just two earned runs in five innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 15.
Even if the Mets turn things around soon, Holmes may not have a lengthy future in New York. It was revealed in the winter that the club prefers not to give out long-term contracts to starting pitchers. Because he is 33, Holmes will likely only remain in Queens if he agrees to a shorter deal.
New York Could Also Deal Top Prospect This Summer
Peralta and Holmes are not the only New York Mets players linked with potential departures. Schoenfield also claims that Jonah Tong could be used as trade bait if New York becomes a contender this summer. The team’s top-rated minor league prospect is highly regarded within the organization. In fact, the Mets resisted dealing Tong to the Milwaukee Brewers in the Peralta trade.
Just which player(s) the Mets decide to move this season depends on their record heading towards the trade deadline. Either way, it seems as if Stearns will take yet another stab at trying to help improve the team’s roster in the near future.
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