Clay Holmes's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

New York Yankees closer Clay Holmes hung on for an Opening Day save in Thursday's 5-4 come-from-behind win over the Houston Astros, allowing three hits in the ninth inning. It certainly wasn't easy, as Holmes gave up a leadoff knock to Mauricio Dubon before Yordan Alvarez reached on an infield single. Kyle Tucker then lined one to right field, but Dubon was just gunned down by Juan Soto while trying to score the tying run on a close play that required a review. Holmes got Alex Bregman to ground out to end the game, and fantasy managers were able to breathe a sigh of relief. The 31-year-old right-hander was an All-Star in 2023 during his first year as a full-time closer in the Bronx, and he's set to rack up plenty of save opportunities on the contending Pinstripes once again. Without much competition for ninth-inning work at the moment, Holmes is a good bet to post north of 20 saves in 2024.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed that right-handed reliever Clay Holmes remains the team's closer heading into the 2024 season. The Yankees used Holmes in a variety of high-leverage roles to open last season, including in some save chances, but he was mostly used in the ninth inning in the second half of the year. The 30-year-old, who is headed into his walk year, had 20 saves in 2022 and topped that mark by four in 2023. If he's the club's full-time closer from start to finish in 2024, Holmes has the opportunity to set a new career-high in saves for the third straight season. With a high strikeout rate, a ground-ball profile and not much competition for the closing role if he falters, Holmes should be considered a solid No. 2 closing option for fantasy managers.

Right-handed reliever Clay Holmes and the New York Yankees settled at $6 million plus performance bonuses for the 2024 season on Thursday to avoid salary arbitration, according to a source. Holmes has been New York's primary closer over the last two seasons and has delivered a strong 2.70 ERA (2.75 FIP), 1.09 WHIP, 44 saves, 43 walks and 136 strikeouts over 126 2/3 relief innings in 128 appearances out of the bullpen. In addition to a career-high 24 saves in 2023, the 30-year-old had a career-high 27.1 percent strikeout rate and an elite 2.4 percent barrel rate and 66.7 percent ground-ball percentage. Holmes will enter the 2024 campaign as the Yankees' primary closer once again, giving him high-end closer appeal.