Clay Holmes’ latest rehab start may have given the Chicago White Sox what they needed to see before making a deal.
One of the more intriguing trade targets for the Chicago White Sox ahead of the August 3 deadline is New York Mets right-handed pitcher Clay Holmes.
The 33-year-old is a former All-Star closer for the New York Yankees who has developed into a quality member of the Mets’ starting rotation.
Over the last two seasons, Holmes has made 40 starts for the Mets, posting a 16-12 record with a 3.26 ERA. In 2026, that ERA sits at 2.39. Holmes is also one of the best pitchers in baseball at limiting barrels, inducing chases outside the strike zone, and generating ground balls.
The Mets are bona fide sellers, and Holmes is essentially a rental acquisition on an expiring contract. He signed a three-year, $38 million deal with the Mets, but the third year includes a $12 million player option for 2027. Given his production over the last two seasons, it’s nearly certain that Holmes will decline that option and become a free agent at the end of the 2026 season.
That makes him a no-brainer to be moved before the trade deadline, and reports from as early as last week indicated that the Chicago White Sox were one of the teams eyeing the veteran starter.
The fit makes a lot of sense. Holmes is fairly steady, and his production is reliable. He usually pitches deep into games and has a tolerable walk rate. While it came as a relief pitcher, he also gained postseason experience during his time with the Yankees. The main question for the White Sox and every other interested team has been his health.
Holmes broke his leg earlier this season when he was drilled by a 111.1 mph line drive on May 15. He has been on the injured list ever since, but in his latest rehab outing, Holmes took a significant step forward and cleared a hurdle that could help a trade get done.
Holmes has now put together two successful rehab starts. On July 23, he completed 2.1 innings for the Triple-A Syracuse Mets, allowing two earned runs while throwing 51 pitches. On July 28, Holmes pitched four scoreless innings for the Single-A St. Lucie Mets on 59 pitches. Scouts in attendance believed Holmes looked ready to return to the big leagues in his most recent rehab assignment.
The White Sox were one of six teams with scouts at the game.
The market for Clay Holmes is certain to be strong, and that could drive up the price. But even stronger is the White Sox’s need for quality starting pitching. GM Chris Getz is sitting on a first-place team and understands the opportunity in front of him. Perhaps Holmes’ latest rehab assignment provided what the White Sox needed to see to push some chips in for the veteran starter at the trade deadline.
