PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Yankees nearer Clay Holmes is a free agent after this season, however a contract extension shouldn’t be on his thoughts. The No. 1 precedence is profitable a World Collection title with the Bronx Bombers.
Since becoming a member of the Yankees in a commerce from the Pirates in 2021, Holmes has been so far as the American League Championship Collection in ’22, when New York was swept by Houston in 4 video games. Holmes has been stable in his two-plus years within the Huge Apple, saving 44 video games with a 2.50 ERA.
“I all the time dream of profitable a World Collection in New York. I really feel we now have an opportunity to do this this yr. That’s the place I’m at,” Holmes mentioned. “I’m trying ahead to this season. That’s the place my psychological vitality is towards. Clearly, I like taking part in for the Yankees. I like the blokes within the locker room. With that being mentioned, I look ahead to this yr and see the place that goes.”
Holmes pitched his first sport of the spring Tuesday and was stable in the course of the Yankees’ 5-4 loss to the Mets at Clover Park, retiring the aspect so as within the fourth inning and hanging out one.
“I really feel good. It’s good simply to really feel the sport pace and the sport routine,” Holmes mentioned. “It was good to concentrate on strike one.”
Final yr, Holmes was a part of a stable bullpen that included Michael King and Wandy Peralta, however each gamers at the moment are with the Padres. Holmes remains to be assured that the bullpen — which nonetheless contains Jonathan Loáisiga and Tommy Kahnle from a gaggle that led the Majors with a 3.34 ERA — shall be a energy in 2024.
“Clearly, King and Wandy have been acquainted pitchers for us. … But when we maintain placing guys in good spots and the blokes belief their stuff, I feel there isn’t a motive we will’t repeat what we did final yr,” Holmes mentioned. “The stuff down there’s unbelievable. I feel if we assault the zone, belief it, [there] shall be no worries about it.”
Good exhibiting from JonesBefore he was despatched to Minor League camp after Tuesday’s sport, Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones went 1-for-2 with a double. Jones, the Yankees’ No. 2 prospect in keeping with MLB Pipeline, completed 7-for-15 with one huge dwelling run and 4 RBIs in eight spring video games.
“He’s such a presence and dynamic athlete in a number of methods,” Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned. “He’s sort of scratching the floor on his baseball profession. He wasn’t a full-time place participant till not way back. He’s a type of guys with an extremely excessive ceiling simply based mostly on his energy and athleticism. It’s enjoyable watching him play heart, too. He simply sort of glides on the market.”
