Clay Holmes is the latest Met to be shipped out as part of Monday's fire sale, with reports indicating that the righty has been dealt to the Cubs along with Tyrone Taylor, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Per Heyman, the Mets will get back Chicago's No. 2 prospect in Jefferson Rojas, a 21-year-old infielder who is currently batting .270 with a .799 OPS and 15 home runs in Double-A.
Holmes has not pitched since May due to a fractured fibula suffered against the Yankees when a comebacker struck him in the leg. He pitched in a rehab assignment on Sunday, tossing five-plus innings and allowing four runs, three of them earned.
Holmes turned out to be one of David Stearns' best acquisitions for the Mets, converting the former Yankee closer into an effective starting pitcher. The 32-year-old was on an All-Star trajectory before his injury, pitching to a 2.39 ERA in 52.2 innings of work. Last season, his first with the Mets, Holmes posted a 3.53 ERA in his first season as a starter.
Holmes' contract carried a player option for 2027, and he expressed a willingness to work out a contract extension, but as the season bottomed out for the Mets in Holmes' absence, it became more and more clear that New York would ship out Holmes to acquire future assets.
Taylor, a free agent at the end of the season, is hitting .241 with 10 home runs and a .794 OPS this season.
Holmes and Taylor join the likes of A.J. Minter, Luke Weaver, Freddy Peralta, Huascar Brazoban, and Brooks Raley as Mets pitchers to be traded before Monday's deadline.
Holmes is nearing a return from a leg injury, but it will not be with New York.
Holmes is nearing a return from a leg injury, but it will not be with New York.
