PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Yankees closer Clay Holmes is a free agent after this season, but a contract extension is not on his mind. The No. 1 priority is winning a World Series title with the Bronx Bombers.

Since joining the Yankees in a trade from the Pirates in 2021, Holmes has been as far as the American League Championship Series in '22, when New York was swept by Houston in four games. Holmes has been solid in his two-plus years in the Big Apple, saving 44 games with a 2.50 ERA.

“I always dream of winning a World Series in New York. I feel we have a chance to do that this year. That’s where I’m at,” Holmes said. “I’m looking forward to this season. That’s where my mental energy is toward. Obviously, I love playing for the Yankees. I love the guys in the locker room. With that being said, I look forward to this year and see where that goes.”

Holmes pitched his first game of the spring Tuesday and was solid during the Yankees' 5-4 loss to the Mets at Clover Park, retiring the side in order in the fourth inning and striking out one.

“I feel good. It’s good just to feel the game speed and the game routine,” Holmes said. “It was good to focus on strike one.”

Last year, Holmes was part of a solid bullpen that included Michael King and Wandy Peralta, but both players are now with the Padres. Holmes is still confident that the bullpen -- which still includes Jonathan Loáisiga and Tommy Kahnle from a group that led the Majors with a 3.34 ERA -- will be a strength in 2024.

"Obviously, King and Wandy were familiar pitchers for us. … But if we keep putting guys in good spots and the guys trust their stuff, I think there is no reason we can’t repeat what we did last year,” Holmes said. “The stuff down there is incredible. I think if we attack the zone, trust it, [there] will be no worries about it.”

Good showing from Jones
Before he was sent to Minor League camp after Tuesday's game, Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones went 1-for-2 with a double. Jones, the Yankees’ No. 2 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, finished 7-for-15 with one massive home run and four RBIs in eight spring games.

“He is such a presence and dynamic athlete in a lot of ways,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “He is kind of scratching the surface on his baseball career. He wasn’t a full-time position player until not long ago. He is one of those guys with an incredibly high ceiling just based on his strength and athleticism. It’s fun watching him play center, too. He just kind of glides out there.”