With future uncertain, Clay Holmes reflects on ‘special’ experience with Yankees

The Yankees’ run to the World Series served as a redemption story for Clay Holmes.

Demoted in September from the closer role, Holmes re-established himself as one of the Yankees’ most trusted relievers during the postseason, pitching to a 2.25 ERA over 12.0 innings while appearing in all but one of the team’s playoff games.

Whether that redemption story will continue in pinstripes next season remains undecided.

Holmes is set to be a free agent, headlining a group of high-leverage Yankee relievers who might not be back.

“This place has made a big impact on me,” Holmes said following the Yankees’ World Series-ending loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5.

“Especially when you go through a year like this with the people in this clubhouse, you build some good relationships, and to make the run that we did and just fall short, there’s definitely something left to be desired. I don’t know what the future holds, but it’s a special place here.”

Acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates in a pre-deadline trade in 2021, the right-handed Holmes boasts a 2.69 ERA and 238 strikeouts in 217.2 innings with the Yankees.

He earned two All-Star selections and converted 74 of his 97 save opportunities with the Yankees, primarily serving as their closer over the past three seasons.

“It’s been incredible,” Holmes said of his Yankees tenure. “Just thinking back three and a half years when I got traded over here to now, there’s a lot of special people here, and the whole process and the leaders in this clubhouse and just the things that I’ve learned here, it’s been invaluable. Something I’ll always remember and take with me.”

The sinker-balling Holmes did not surrender an earned run over his first 20 appearances of the 2024 regular season, but he struggled down the stretch, finishing the year with 13 blown saves to tie the Yankees’ single-season record.

Luke Weaver took over as the closer in September and remained in the role throughout the postseason, pitching to a 1.76 ERA over 15.1 playoff innings. On Friday, the Yankees picked up Weaver’s $2.5 million club option for 2025.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone frequently deployed Holmes in important spots during the postseason, including in Game 4 of the World Series, when he recorded four crucial outs and picked up the win.

Holmes, 31, appeared in all five World Series games and did not allow a run.

Other relied-upon Yankee relievers set to hit free agency include left-hander Tim Hill and right-handers Tommy Kahnle and Jonathan Loáisiga.

The side-winding Hill pitched to a 2.05 ERA with the Yankees in the regular season and to a 1.08 ERA over 8.1 innings in the postseason.

The changeup-heavy Kahnle pitched to a 2.11 ERA during the regular season and to a 2.08 ERA in 8.2 innings in the playoffs.

The flame-throwing Loáisiga, meanwhile, was diagnosed in April with an elbow injury that required season-ending surgery.

Jake Cousins, Mark Leiter Jr. and Ian Hamilton are among the Yankee relievers who remain under team control.

Asked after Game 5 about his emotions heading into free agency, Holmes replied, “I haven’t really thought much about that.”

“I wanted to win a championship here, and obviously this is kind of a tough ending,” Holmes said. “For me, it’s just processing that and feeling that and just being around the guys one last time.”