Mets Steal $38 Million Pitcher From Yankees With Juan Soto Still In Sights
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The New York Mets and the New York Yankees are involved in a pretty heated bidding war for free agent superstar Juan Soto. Neither team wants to lose the $700 million star to the other New York team.
But while these negotiations were going on, the Mets have reportedly stolen a different All-Star from the Yankees in free agency.
ESPN's Jeff Passan was one of the first on the news.
"Right-hander Clay Holmes and the New York Mets are in agreement on a three-year, $38 million contract with an opt-out after the second year, sources tell ESPN. Mets plan to turn Holmes, who has spent his big league career as a relief pitcher, into a starter," Passan wrote in a post to Twitter/X.
This deal comes quite close in average annual value to the four-year, $54 million contract that Spotrac predicted Holmes to sign.
The interesting twist here is that the Mets plan to use Holmes as a starter. He started games years ago but has seen much more success as a reliever. Given his ability to create soft contract with his sinker and sweeper, this might not be a bad idea. If the righty can add a changeup to the mix, potentially a split variation, he could find success as a starter too.
The Mets have now successfully stolen one All-Star away from Brian Cashman and the Yankees. We'll find out in the next few days if the Mets can make it two stolen All-Stars by swiping Soto as well.
More MLB: Where Will $700 Million Yankees Free Agent Juan Soto Sign In Coming Days?