Subway Series Player Swaps Produce Mixed Results in Latest Matchup

Over the past year and a half or so, the New York Yankees have lost several high-profile players to the New York Mets. This includes pitchers Clay Holmes, Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, and the highest-paid player in baseball that does not play for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Juan Soto.

All four players spent time in the Bronx before taking the 7 Train to Queens to try to continue their careers in a different shade of pinstripe. Soto, despite reportedly being offered a $760 million contract by the Yankees, went to the Mets for just $5 million more.

The Yankees have found ways to move past those players who moved boroughs, while on the Queens side, these players helped the Mets take the series win this past weekend. The Yankees’ crosstown rivals are trying to get their season back on track after a rough start.

The Yankees and Mets will continue to compete for top talent as two of the wealthiest teams in the league, so this should be a trend that will continue for the foreseeable future.

Unfortunate Timing for Holmes

The Mets started Clay Holmes on the mound in game one of the latest Subway Series. He pitched 4.1 innings, striking out eight and giving up four earned runs. He was eventually taken out seven batters after being hit with a 111.1 mph comebacker. His injury was later revealed to be a fractured fibula, which will knock him out for at least 4-6 weeks.

Prior to the injury, he was one of the bright spots on a Mets team that has been riddled with injuries and tough luck. Holmes has a 4-4 record with a 2.39 ERA this season, with 45 strikeouts and only three home runs.

According to Baseball Savant, Holmes’ run values on his fastballs, breaking balls, and offspeed stuff are all within the 80th percentile, with his overall pitching run value in the 94th percentile. His groundball percentage is over 50%, and his chase percentage is at 32.9%. This fits the mold as he is primarily a sinker-sweeper pitcher, using the outside of the zone to his advantage.

This is a far cry from how he ended his Yankee stint in 2024. He started his time in the Bronx as one of the best relievers in the league and was the primary Yankees closer once Aroldis Chapman left in 2022, ranking in the top 10 in the American League in saves each year from 2022-24.

He started off 2024 strong, not giving up an earned run until May 21, but lost it in the second half, blowing a league-leading 13 saves and losing the closer role to Luke Weaver. Holmes was converted to a starter last season when he went to the Mets, finishing his first year in Queens with a 3.53 ERA in 165.2 innings pitched, although he ranked fourth-last in the National League with 65 walks.

The team will be itching to get him back on the mound, as he was one of their most solid starters. If the Mets can keep their newfound momentum going, he will be a big piece once he returns down the stretch.

Bounceback Series for Weaver and Williams

This series could also mark a turning point for Weaver and Williams, two players that came to Queens during the most recent offseason.

Both had rough ends to their Yankees stints. Williams never truly found his groove last season in the Bronx, a season that would end up being his lone Yankees campaign. Although he came with great fanfare when he was traded to the team, he was quickly demoted from the closer role in late April.

After never posting an ERA over 2.50 from 2020-24 while shutting down games for the Milwaukee Brewers, Williams had a 4.50 ERA last season, adding to the Yankees’ bullpen struggles. He gave up 33 earned runs, after he never gave up more than 15 in a season with the Brewers.

Although he struggled again early on in 2026, along with the rest of his team, Williams has turned it around as of late. His stuff remains some of the best in the league, as his chase rate, whiff rate and strikeout percentage are all within the 95th percentile or higher.

He had a huge outing on Sunday, entering in the top of the 10th inning and keeping the game tied, setting up the walk-off win for the Mets.

Weaver was one of the key pieces of the Yankees’ AL pennant run in 2024. He took over as closer for Holmes and came up with some big saves in the postseason.

At the end of last year, like Williams, he lost it. He had a 9.64 ERA in September and had some brutal outings in the ALDS loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Like Williams, Weaver struggled to start this year too, but he came into the Subway Series with five straight scoreless appearances. In Saturday’s win, he worked his way out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam, helping to keep the Yankee bats at bay.

Soto’s Mixed Bag in Flushing

Juan Soto continues to be the focal point of the Mets, regardless of how well or poorly they happen to be playing. He finished the season last year leading the NL in on-base percentage and stolen bases, and ranking third in OPS, RBIs and home runs. Despite this effort, he could not stop the Mets’ epic collapse from the best record in the league to missing the playoffs.

He missed time in April due to a right calf strain, but with both Francisco Lindor and Luis Robert Jr. injured, as well as Bo Bichette slumping, he has been the most productive hitter on the team.

It seems that regardless of the Yankees’ success this year compared to the Mets, Yankees fans will not forget Soto ghosting his former team to move crosstown anytime soon, as his plate appearances heard a smattering of cheers and boos.

Soto still has an excellent on-base percentage, and most of his hitting metrics continue to be in the highest percentiles. He had four hits in the series against his old friends and scored a run in every game. But as long as the Mets fail to succeed, his decision to leave the Bronx will follow him.

The Yankees’ Replacements for Lost Talent

The Mets made a lot of noise when they signed Soto two offseasons ago, as well as when they sold off or let go of several of their veterans to bring in new faces this offseason. The attention that it brought them made it look like Queens was perhaps a more valued destination for free agents than the Bronx.

But what went relatively unseen was the Yankees’ efforts to replace the talent they lost. They realize the Mets are a team they will constantly have to compete with for top talent.

They brought in Cody Bellinger to replace Soto in the outfield, and he has excelled, finishing in the AL’s top 10 in RBIs and the top 20 in batting average, OPS and slugging percentage last year. He has also made an impact defensively, as he has spent time at all three outfield positions and first base while in pinstripes.

Ben Rice’s breakout has also helped replace the thump the Yankees lost when Soto departed.

In the bullpen, despite struggles from last year’s trade deadline acquisitions David Bednar, Camilo Doval and Jake Bird, guys like Fernando Cruz and Brent Headrick have found success.

Cruz, who mixes a diving splitter with a high fastball, has a whiff rate at 41% in the 99th percentile, along with a high strikeout percentage and hard-hit rate. Headrick has only given up six earned runs in 23.1 innings pitched and is sporting the lowest ERA of his career and the most strikeouts among Yankee relievers.

Despite losing the latest Subway Series, the Yankees look primed for a deep run and a season-long battle with the Tampa Bay Rays for the AL East title. The Mets will look to keep the momentum going and work their way back into contention, much like in their more magical 2024 season.

Despite what happens for the rest of this season, both teams will be competing with one another not only for the hearts and minds of New Yorkers but for the best players that baseball has to offer for years to come.