New York Yankees confirm Another Star They Are Willing To Give Contract Extension This Offseason

Yankees Could Sign Rising Star To Contract Extension This Offseason
The New York Yankees boasted the finest bullpen in baseball last season but could lose some of the most productive hurlers this winter.

A few of New York’s top relievers — notably Wandy Peralta — are free agents and it isn’t obvious if they will be back with the Yankees. Especially if the Yankees are going to lose any of their relievers this offseason, it would make sense to lock up some of their top relievers on the roster to multi-year deals to maintain consistency.

One of New York’s premier arms in the bullpen right now is closer Clay Holmes. The 30-year-old has been in New York for the previous two-plus seasons and has taken a significant step forward and even got an All-Star berth in 2022.

Holmes will be a free agency at the end of the 2024 season but the New York Post’s Joel Sherman suggested a multi-year agreement may make sense for New York.

“But for a level of continuity and certainty (or as certain as you get with bullpen arms), may it be desirable for the Yankees to find a way to keep Holmes beyond 2024? Maybe they have tried. Maybe they will attempt more in spring training…I wonder whether the right comp is Reynaldo Lopez. It is imperfect because Lopez was a free agent after his age-29 season and Holmes will not be a free agent until after his age-31 season, but Lopez was signed for three years at $30 million by the Braves with the idea he would try to start again, which he last did full-time during the 2020 pandemic season…

 

“However, the Yankees can also employ the future assurance afforded by Holmes, who could lose control of his sinker a few times a year but has demonstrated he can handle New York and the late innings. Can there be a resolution in which the sides take the $6 million Holmes is owed for this season and add it to three years at $30 million to repeat Lopez’s pact and wind up with a four-year, $36 million agreement? Again, I think if Holmes pitches as he has in his two-plus Yankees seasons, he could accomplish better than that. But that is 60-ish appearances from now.”

While this doesn’t guarantee a deal is approaching, it would make sense. Holmes had a 2.86 ERA in 66 appearances last season and had 24 saves. He brings steadiness to the back of the Yankees’ bullpen and it would make sense to retain him around for the long run.