The focus on the New York Yankees lately has been on outfielder Juan Soto, and rightly so. The team traded five players this offseason to bring in the All-Star slugger, who has just one season left before becoming a free agent. It’s expected that he’ll command one of the highest salaries in the game, possibly second only to Shohei Ohtani.
One reason for trading for Soto, in addition to improving the outfield, was to expose him to life in New York City before he hits free agency.
Soto, a left-handed hitter, boasts some of the best offensive stats in the American League, making him a strong contender for the AL MVP title this season.
However, the Yankees also have other players entering free agency, including one worth considering re-signing.
Clay Holmes could be argued as the best closer in the American League currently. As of Sunday’s games, he had nine saves with a perfect 1-0 record and no earned run average (ERA) through 13 innings. USA Today noted that Holmes has been exceptional at the start of the season.
He’s not just on track for another season with at least 20 saves and an ERA below .300; he might be having a career-best season. Last year, he achieved a personal high of 24 saves, and he made his first All-Star appearance in 2022, recording 20 saves.
Holmes is earning $6 million this season, far less than top closers like Josh Hader, who signed a lucrative deal with the Houston Astros. Hader’s contract averages $19 million annually, but he’s been struggling since joining Houston, showing the unpredictable nature of the closing role.
However, familiarity sometimes outweighs the unknown, and if that’s the logic, it makes sense for the Yankees to consider keeping Holmes beyond this season.
The New York Post suggested earlier this year that Holmes could be signed to a three-year extension valued at around $10 million per year.
With each save, Holmes is boosting his value in free agency, whether he stays with the Yankees or not.
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