Yankees trade for Pirates reliever Clay Holmes

The Yankees made a trade on Monday, but it’s not the type of sexy move that many are crossing their fingers for.

Clay Holmes, a 28-year-old right-handed reliever for the Pittsburgh Pirates, is headed to the Bronx. The Yankees announced that they acquired Holmes for infielders Diego Castillo and Hoy Park. Holmes has pitched in 44 games for the Pirates this season. He can be menacing on right-handed hitters, a group that’s hitting .173 against him and slugging a not-much-better .194.

Holmes’ 4.93 ERA this season is a bit misleading. Fourteen of the 24 earned runs he’s coughed up came in three outings. Blowups against Cincinnati, Milwaukee and Arizona inflated his ERA, but Holmes’ 23.3% strikeout rate matches the highest he’s had in his four-year career with Pittsburgh.

The righty from Alabama relies heavily on a 95 mile per hour sinker. It’s a pitch he throws over half the time, in lieu of a traditional four-seam fastball. He uses a slider as his primary strikeout pitch and will also mix in a curveball.

Castillo played his first game in the Yankees’ system as a 17-year-old in 2015. This season, he’s hitting .277/.345/.504 at Double-A while alternating between second base, third base and shortstop. Park also made his minor league debut in 2015 and appeared in one game for the big club in 2021. In his only plate appearance as a Yankee, Park grounded out against the Red Sox on July 16. The South Korea native hit .327 in 223 plate appearances this year for the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate.

Holmes isn’t the juicy pickup some Yankee fans might want. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

SCHMIDT BACK ON TRACK

Top pitching prospect Clarke Schmidt, who was shut down after his first spring training bullpen with an elbow strain, pitched in his first game of the season. Schmidt threw three innings against the Florida Complex League Tigers West. He gave up one hit, struck out five. He threw 30 pitches, 24 for strikes.

CLOSER TO WHOLE

Aaron Judge and Kyle Higashioka worked out at the Yankees’ spring training home, George M. Steinbrenner Field Monday. The two have been on the COVID-19 injury list since July 15 and were to have their cardiovascular exams Monday. They are expected to be activated this week.

They were joined by Luke Voit, who is on the injured list with inflammation in his surgically repaired left knee. Voit could possibly be activated this week also, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

Boone was among those watching the workouts Monday.

— With Kristie Ackert in Tampa