[MIB] Holmes almost traded to the Diamondbacks, foreign media reveals the inside story of the trade falling through.

The Chicago Cubs actively strengthened their starting rotation before the trade deadline, acquiring Clay Holmes from the New York Mets. However, recent media reports indicate that the Mets originally intended to send the right-handed pitcher, who successfully transitioned to a right-handed position last year, to another team, but discovered a problem at the last minute, which gave the Cubs the opportunity.

The Chicago Cubs made aggressive moves to acquire Clay Holmes from the New York Mets just before the trade deadline. (AFP)

According to a report by Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Holmes was originally slated to be traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks, but the Mets had concerns about the medical report of one of the rookies in the trade package and subsequently called off the deal. They eventually reached an agreement with the Cubs, sending Holmes and Tyrone Taylor to the Cubs in exchange for Jefferson Rojas, an outfielder who hit 15 home runs and stole 17 bases this season in Double-A.

When Holmes signed with the Mets last year, he transitioned into a starting pitcher, putting up a 12-win season with a 3.53 ERA. In his first nine starts this year, his ERA dropped even lower to 2.39. Unfortunately, in a game against the New York Yankees in mid-May, he was hit by a powerful pitch from Spencer Jones, resulting in a fracture of his right fibula. He has been on the injured list since May 15. However, when the Cubs acquired him through a trade, he had already played his third rehabilitation game in the minor leagues, pitching a total of 73 pitches in that game.

Holmes returned to the MLB mound yesterday in the game against the Kansas City Royals, pitching 4 innings and allowing 6 hits and 4 runs. In a post-game interview, he admitted that he has not yet returned to his best form. "I feel like I'm very close to returning to my best form. It's easy to adjust. There aren't any major changes. It's just about adapting to the rhythm of the game and trusting my sinker." It is worth mentioning that 11 of the 12 outs he recorded in this game were groundouts.