Clay Holmes bid farewell to the New York Mets on social media Tuesday, a day after being traded to the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline. Holmes expressed gratitude for his time with the Mets, thanking the fans for their welcome and support through both successes and challenges.
“To the fans, thank you. You welcomed me and my wife from day one, supported us through the highs and the lows, and truly made New York feel like home,” Holmes posted on Instagram. “Wearing a Mets uniform was something I’ll always be proud of.”
Holmes acknowledged that the team fell short of its ultimate goal during his time in Queens, a sentiment he described as difficult. "I know we all wanted the same thing, and it’s tough to leave without accomplishing what we set out to do," he stated. "We fell short, and that part is hard. But I’m grateful I got to go through it with a great group of teammates, coaches, and staff who gave everything they had every single day."
He concluded his message by reflecting on the overall experience. “I’m thankful for this chapter, for the people we met, and for a city that embraced us from the start. We’ll always be grateful for our time in New York and everything that came with it.”
This sentiment marks a departure from Holmes's previous experience in New York, when he played for the Yankees. During his time with the Bronx-based team, some challenging outings led to him being booed by the home crowd while serving as the team's closer. His role shifted with the Mets, where he transitioned to a starting pitcher and achieved success.
Last season, Holmes recorded a 3.53 earned run average in 33 starts. Prior to sustaining a right fibula fracture on May 15, he was pitching to a 2.39 ERA in 2026.