The New York Yankees’ biggest strength last season was their bullpen. For the longest time, it ranked first in lower ERA metric. However, in a bold step, the front office traded key relief arms to the San Diego Padres in exchange for generational star Juan Soto.
Michel King, Jhony Brito, Drew Thorpe, Randy Vasquez, and Wandy Peralta left the team this past off-season. Of course, the Yankees were able to sign a few less popular names to fill the pen. However, ahead of the impending free agency, another key closer dropped hints on his potential exit in 2025.
Clay Holmes Unsure Of Extending Stay In Bronx!
Clay Holmes, after debuting in MLB with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2018, joined the New York Yankees in 2021 via trade. He then found success and bagged his career’s first All-Star nod in 2022, in which he stacked 20 saves along with a 2.54 ERA in 62 appearances. Holmes followed it up with 24 saves and a 2.86 ERA in 66 total appearances in the 2023 season, where the team sadly finished outside the postseason. However, while the relief pitcher has kicked off the 2024 season on a high with a 0.00 ERA in 16 games, he’s still unsure of whether the Yanks would want him beyond the current season. Notably, Holmes is an impending free agent, and The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty has confirmed that the franchise has yet to extend him an offer.
Kuty also talked to Clay Holmes, who said that he was not focused on free agency at all. Presently, his priorities are to win games for the Yankees and fulfill the said duty. While he’s had a good relationship with the players and coaches, the future still remains uncertain for the proven relief pitcher. “When the day comes that I’m no longer a Yankee, we’ll think about where that goes,” Holmes told Kuty. Ultimately, Holmes’ future will depend on how the team navigates the complexities of the trade market and evaluates its long-term goals. While Holmes has undoubtedly made a strong case to remain with the Yanks, the dynamics of professional sports dictate that no player is ever guaranteed to stay with a team indefinitely. Regardless, with 9 saves start to the walk season, Clay Holmes is focused on maximizing the given opportunity to raise his stakes in the market next year.
Yankees Fresh Face Blows Up Save Vs Brewers!
In an embarrassing extra innings loss, the New York Yankees allowed the Milwaukee Brewers to take home a 7-6 win on Friday. The Bronx Bombers’ newest bullpen addition, Michael Tonkin, blew up the save by allowing a walk-off hit in the 11th inning of his debut game. Notably, Tonkin was claimed off the waivers from the Mets just a day before.
Needless to say, Michael Tonkin seems just another addition to the New York Yankees bullpen woes this year. Besides closer Clay Holmes, the rest of the relief corps have been inconsistent per se, leading to a waste of starters’ efforts. Moreover, Yanks offensive no-show is further pushing the team towards abysmal defeats.
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