How This One Team Has Changed Contract Valuations With Starting Pitchers
- Aaron Gandia
- Jun 13
- 3 min read
As of June 13th, 2025, the New York Mets have the best record in the MLB at 45-24. On the outside looking in, most people would assume their high-powered offense, led by the highest-paid athlete in American sports, Juan Soto, is the reason for that success. However, this is far from the truth. In fact, their pitching, which many considered suspect before the season, has completely proven everyone wrong. The Mets rank #1 in baseball in terms of ERA at 2.85 and are the only team in the majors with a combined ERA under 3.00. This can be attributed to the contributions from the starting pitching that has posted a 2.80 ERA (#1) and the bullpen 2.89 (#2). What is shocking is the personnel that are making this all possible.
1. Griffin Canning
Salary: 1-year, $4.25 million
2024 Stats: 5.19 ERA, 171.2 IP (Innings Pitched)
After posting a 5.19 ERA in 2024 with the Los Angeles Angels, which was the worst in the American League, the light was looking dim on the 29-year-old Canning, who was a former top prospect heading into free agency. However, the Mets took a flyer on Griffin Canning and signed him to a 1-year, $4.25 million contract. This move shocked everyone, including myself, especially after the significant financial commitments that were put into the offense. Griffin Canning, in turn, has revitalized his career and has been a significant piece in the Mets rotation. He's posted a 3.22 ERA and an xFIP (Expected Fielding Independent Pitching) of 3.81. His increase in performance can be attributed to the Mets pitching lab that instructed him to change his four-seam fastball grip so that it would be more true. Along with that, they changed his slider grip, which has increased its total vertical movement from 3.9 inches in 2024 to 7.1 inches this season. Taking a small 1-year commitment on Griffin Canning has paid off so far, and the Mets are reaping the benefits.
2. Clay Holmes
Salary: 3-years, $38 million
2024 Stats: 3.14 ERA, 63.0 IP
In a down season for Clay Holmes last season, he blew 13 saves as the Yankees closer, which was the most in the MLB last season. Along with that, he lost the closer's role to Luke Weaver, who ran with the job the rest of the season. Regardless of how unlucky Holmes was, 2.65 FIP in 2024, he was widely misinterpreted as an invaluable asset. Heading into the offseason, Clay Holmes became a free agent for the first time and was uncertain of his future, especially after the season he put up, in light of the bad perception. Ultimately, he signed a 3-year, $38 million contract with the crosstown rival Mets to become a starting pitcher, yes, a starting pitcher. The Mets were not the only team to express interest in him as a starting pitcher as multiple teams had similar interests. So far Holmes' transition to the starting rotation has gone seamlessly and he has pitched to a 2.95 ERA along with a 3.61 xFIP. He's done this while pitching 73.1 innings, which is the most of his entire career. His success can be attributed to adding a cutter and kick-changeup to his pitch arsenal. The kick-change has produced a 36.6 Whiff%, which is the most out of all his pitches. Holmes is one of the many surprising pitchers on the Mets that have made key contributions to the team.
Clay Holmes and Griffin Canning are just a few of the many reclamation projects the Mets have converted into good pitchers, e.g., Sean Manaea and Luis Severino. In a time when pitcher injuries are frequent and unpredictable, the Mets have done very well to combat the trends of today's game. Their heavy reliance on signing multiple pitchers to short-term contracts and getting the most out of them with strong development and training has ignited a new revolution in evaluating pitcher contracts.
Sources:
Amazing