The Cubs thought Clay Holmes was a ‘perfect fit.’ What happened?

Despite starting pitcher Clay Holmes enduring a late-season collapse and going unused during the playoffs, the Chicago Cubs are expected to remain interested in retaining him. Acquired from the New York Mets at the trade deadline, Holmes recorded a 1.55 ERA across five August starts before unraveling with an 8.24 ERA and 15 walks in September, contributing to Chicago's slide and eventual wild-card sweep against the San Diego Padres.

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and manager Craig Counsell highlighted Holmes' strong ground-ball rate alongside command struggles against left-handed hitters as primary factors down the stretch. Holmes holds a $12 million player option for 2027 but could become a free agent as Chicago faces major offseason roster restructuring.