Yankees Rumors: NYY will consider upgrading Clay Holmes at MLB trade deadline

Through action on May 19, Yankees closer Clay Holmes had a spotless ERA of 0.00. Despite certain eternally pessimistic fans' undercurrent of discomfort, he was the best closer in baseball. That is impossible to dispute. A few ghost runners scored in Arizona. That was that.

Now, with the second half and trade deadline approaching? Holmes is decidedly out of the conversation that he once commanded. He's been a 50-50 proposition, at best, since striking out Mookie Betts' to preserve the Yankees' lone win in three tries against the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 9. Since that moment in time, he's recorded a pair of saves -- July 10 against the Rays (four outs), July 12 in Baltimore.

Holmes has had success as a closer in the past, bending often but typically not breaking. His recent run of form has been lacking, but this isn't to claim that he "can't" do it. It's just worth mentioning that the Yankees' 2017 playoff bullpen featured Aroldis Chapman, David Robertson, Tommy Kahnle, and Chad Green at the peak of their powers, flanked by a fading-but-still-effective Dellin Betances. This year's group has a scuffling Holmes, a teetering Kahnle, and Luke Weaver sandwiched in between. That group requires reinforcements. If one of those reinforcements happens to be a closer, that would strengthen the entire unit.

According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, the Yankees aren't ruling out such an upgrade, including Mason Miller, Tanner Scott, and Carlos Estévez of the Angels.

Would Yankees replace closer Clay Holmes at MLB Trade Deadline?

Miller is a remarkable longshot; given the way the Yankees have developed bullpen arms in recent years, and the fickle nature of fireballing, dealing prime assets for the game's foremost sensation seems foolish. Scott will be the deadline's hottest commodity; the Yankees probably should've acquired him in February instead.

Estévez is interesting, though. The 31-year-old with an 0.774 WHIP is having a better season in Anaheim than he did last year, when he was named an All-Star. He doesn't have a lengthy track record of success or the ego that comes with it. He feels like a more malleable potential addition who would be willing to answer the bell whenever he's called upon. He's also a free agent when the season ends.

The Angels selling Estévez is as close to a no-brainer as a trade decision gets, especially in a seller's market like this one. It's good to hear from Heyman that the Yankees would at least entertain jumping in the fray, seemingly understanding that possessing an All-Star closer on the roster and uncovering Michael Tonkin doesn't mean the bullpen puzzle has been solved.