Mets Pitching Rumor Round-up: Buehler, Holmes, Soroka

According to the New York Post’s Joel Sherman and MMO’s Mike Mayer, the Mets are interested in free agents RHP Walker Buehler, RHP Clay Holmes and RHP Michael Soroka.

Buehler, who spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, had a forgettable season in 2024. Although he closed out the World Series for the Dodgers and earned himself a ring, he pitched to a 5.38 ERA in 16 starts in 2024. He came off his second Tommy John surgery and hasn’t pitched a full season since 2021 when he was named to his second All-Star team and finished fourth in Cy Young voting.

Sherman reports the market for him is deep, and various contract types remain on the table. One-year and multi-year deals are options, with opt-outs to help him re-establish himself. Expect him to sign a contract in the vein of Sean Manaea in 2023, who signed a two-year deal with the Mets, which included an opt-out after year one.

The rotation remains a key rebuilding sector for the Mets, even after reportedly signing RHP Frankie Montas to a two-year deal Sunday.

Sherman also notes reliever Clay Holmes is on the Mets’ radar, someone who can bolster a bullpen in need of stability. Holmes comes off a four-year stint with the Yankees, where he posted a 2.69 ERA in 220 games. He saved 74 games, struck out 238 batters and walked 69. However, according to Sherman, the Mets might be interested in Holmes as a starter. He only started four games in his big league career, those coming in his rookie season for the Pirates back in 2018. For more on Holmes, read MMO’s free agent profile here.

Speaking of bullpen stability, Mike Soroka spent the 2024 season with the Chicago White Sox, where, after struggling as a starter, excelled in a relief role. The 27-year-old had a 2.75 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 36 innings as a reliever. Soroka started nine games on the South Side, posting an 0-5 record and 6.39 ERA. In 43.2 innings, he struck out 24 batters, walked 24 and allowed 10 home runs. As a reliever, he also went 0-5 but struck out 60 batters, walked 20 and allowed only three home runs.

His slider and fastball remained elite in 2024, with hitters mustering .168 and .195 batting averages against the pitches. However, his sinker and changeup were hit hard, with batters xSLG .558 and .548 against the pitches. Soroka’s 24.2% strikeout and 12.7% walk percentage were career worsts for him, but that may be a result of an increase in vertical movement in his changeup. While he decreased the pitch usage, it was his most erratic pitch.

Soroka began his career with the Atlanta Braves and is an All-Star. He finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2019 and sixth in Cy Young voting the same year. As a member of the Braves staff, he was 17-8 with a 3.32 ERA over 44 games (43 starts). He struck out 200 batters, walked 67 and finished his Braves tenure with a 136 ERA+. Injuries derailed much of his career. He suffered an Achilles injury in 2020 and then re-tore the same Achilles in 2021 while walking in the clubhouse.

He’s only pitched 100+ innings once in his career (2019). He pitched 79.2 innings in 2024, the second-most of his career. Teams will view him as a reliever, especially after his success in the role late in the season with the White Sox.

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