Cubs’ Clay Holmes Sends Injury Warning After Blockbuster Mets Trade

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 05: Clay Holmes of the Chicago Cubs looks connected against the Los Angeles Dodgers astatine Wrigley Field connected August 05, 2026 successful Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Getty Images

The Chicago Cubs made 1 of the biggest starting-pitching bets of the waste and acquisition deadline erstwhile they acquired Clay Holmes from the New York Mets. The move was designed to springiness head Craig Counsell different knowledgeable limb for a rotation that could find really acold Chicago goes into the postseason.

Holmes had established himself arsenic 1 of the Mets’ astir dependable starters earlier a fractured correct fibula sidelined him successful May. He posted a 2.39 ERA done his first 9 starts, making his wounded and consequent waste and acquisition a peculiarly compelling storyline for the Cubs, who were betting connected his expertise to return from a superior injury.

And Holmes’ first quality pinch Chicago was not peculiarly encouraging.

ForbesCardinals Cut Rookie Infielder Amid Brutal Stretch At The PlateBy Peter Chawaga

Chicago Cubs’ Blockbuster Trade Addition Sends Injury Message

As expected, Holmes looked rusty successful his first major-league outing since the May 15 injury. While he had made 3 rehab starts pinch the Mets’ minor-league affiliates, his return against large convention hitters connected the roadworthy for the Cubs wasn’t ideal, arsenic he allowed 4 runs successful 4 innings and took the nonaccomplishment against the Kansas City Royals.

But aft his 2nd commencement for his caller squad went overmuch better, he sent a informing that up-and-down starts were bound to travel arsenic he continues to recover.

“Coming backmost from injury, it’s ever a process,” Holmes said, according to The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney. “I astir apt wasn’t arsenic bad arsenic my stat statement past time, and I astir apt wasn’t arsenic bully arsenic my 1 this time. It’s conscionable 1 of those things wherever you person to support uncovering ways to get better.”

That connection matters because Chicago did not get Holmes simply to supply innings. The Cubs added him pinch the anticipation that he could go a meaningful portion of a postseason rotation aft spending the first information of his Mets tenure establishing himself arsenic a morganatic starting pitcher.

Holmes' wounded was peculiarly difficult because he had made a successful modulation from the bullpen to the rotation. In 2025, he threw 165 2/3 innings for New York and won 12 games. Before his fibula fracture this season, he had already demonstrated that the domiciled alteration was working.

Chicago Cubs Make Big Injury Bet On New Starter Clay Holmes

Holmes’ informing came aft an encouraging capacity astatine Wrigley Field pursuing his distant debut, which surely gives Cubs fans immoderate reassurance that much of his early starts will lucifer the bully stat line.

Holmes gave the Cubs 6 2/3 scoreless innings pinch conscionable the 1 deed allowed aft his uneven debut. If the Cubs are going to make a heavy playoff run, a resurgence from Holmes would connection a awesome boost. But he needs to proceed building his workload, refining his bid and rediscovering the consistency that made him valuable capable for Chicago to get him while trying to reenforce its rotation for October.