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ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MAY 3: Clay Holmes #35 of the New York Mets delivers to the plate during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 3, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

The 2026 season has been a nightmare for the New York Mets so far. They are currently at the bottom of the National League East with a 15-25 record. When noting that they entered the campaign with high expectations after an offseason of spending, there is no question that they have been among the league’s biggest disappointments this season.

The Mets are looking to turn things back around, but they are still struggling to heat up. They have lost three out of their last four games and have won only five out of their last 10 games. If the Mets continue to stay cold, there is a real chance that they will have no choice but to be sellers this season at the trade deadline.

Due to how this campaign has been going for the Mets, one of their top pitchers has now been named a trade candidate to watch at this point in the season.

Mets Pitcher Clay Holmes Named Among Baseball’s Top Trade Candidates

In a recent article for Bleacher Report, Tim Kelly looked at 10 surprising trade candidates who have the potential to be dealt before this year’s deadline. Among the names mentioned by Kelly was Mets star pitcher Clay Holmes.

“Clay Holmes is one of the pieces on the Mets roster who could be a relatively straightforward trade candidate. The 33-year-old righty has a 3.15 ERA across 208.1 innings since joining the Mets in 2025. His transition from a reliever to starter has been overwhelmingly successful,” Kelly wrote.

If the Mets were to make Holmes available for trade this season, there is no question that he would generate a ton of interest around the league. This is because the 6-foot-5 righty is a high-impact starting pitcher with a very strong resume. With this, several contenders would likely love to add the two-time All-Star to their roster.

Despite the Mets’ immense struggles, Holmes has also been having an excellent start to the 2026 season. In eight games so far this campaign with the Mets, he haa a 4-3 record, a 1.86 ERA, and 37 strikeouts. This is after he had a 12-8 record, a 3.53 ERA, and a career-high 129 strikeouts in 33 appearances for the Mets during the 2025 campaign. With this, he has been continuing to shine, and the Mets could get a strong return for him if they shop him.

The Mets Are a Big Team to Watch From Here

With how this season has been going for the Mets, it is clear that they are a team to keep a very close eye on between now and the trade deadline. If they end up being sellers, Holmes will not be their only notable trade candidate. Star pitcher Freddy Peralta also has the chance to be traded by the Mets if they decide to have a fire sale.

Nevertheless, it is going to be interesting to see what the Mets end up doing at the deadline. If they end up being sellers, which appears more likely than not, Holmes will be a big trade candidate to keep an eye on.