Clay Holmes didn\'t enter free agency looking for a chance to rejoin a starting rotation, but when the opportunity presented itself the reliever decided he would have regretted not giving it a try.
\"I didn\'t want to look back at the end of my career and say, \'Man, what could have come from that?\'\" Holmes said.
Holmes was introduced as the newest member of the New York Mets on Tuesday. He signed a three-year, $38 million contract with a $12 million player option for the third season in 2027.
The right-hander had interest from multiple teams both as a starter and reliever, though he has not started a game since his rookie season in 2018 with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Holmes said the New York Yankees didn\'t discuss converting him into a starter.
\"There\'s a lot of reasons why the Mets drew me in,\" Holmes, 31, said. \"For one, I think the leadership here. Starts with the Cohen family and David Stearns and Carlos Mendoza. I think just seeing their leadership and their vision, their belief, is definitely something that was very appealing. I think the culture here they\'ve created is something that I think people want to be a part of.\"
Holmes said his \"intention\" is to throw at least 160 innings in 2025 -- a number he has never reached as a professional.