Guardians' Hunter Gaddis has stronger All-Star case than Yankees' Clay Holmes

The Cleveland Guardians will have plenty of representation at the 2024 MLB All-Star Game with five players being named to the team, but there is a compelling argument that could be made for a sixth to have joined them.

Guardians reliever Hunter Gaddis has put up an impressive stat line to begin this season. The problem is that he has been overlooked for a spot in Texas alongside his teammates. Rather than giving the underappreciated Gaddis a well-deserved nod, he was left as an also-ran for the All-Star Game. Meanwhile, there is one player in particular who was selected that was less deserving, New York Yankees closer Clay Holmes.

Gaddis has faired much better in just about every category when compared to Holmes, making this result very puzzling.

Hunter Gaddis		Clay Holmes
1.7	WAR	0.5
44	G	37
42.1	IP	36.0
3-2	W-L	1-3
0	SV	19
1.28	ERA	3.00
315	ERA+	137
44	SO	37
28.4	K%	23.9
7	BB	8
4.5	BB%	5.2

The only category that Holmes holds the advantage in is saves, and unfortunately, that appears to be the driving factor in his selection over Gaddis. Sure, there are a couple of areas here that are mostly throwaway stats when it comes to relievers, but the fact of the matter is Gaddis still has the edge there and should be given credit for that.

It would be one thing if the stat comparison between the two was close to an even spit, or if Holmes had an advantage in another area or two when the All-Star rosters were selected, but being chosen over someone who has been night and day a better pitcher is an all-out travesty. Making saves the deciding factor for a relief pitcher in an exhibition game is no way to properly assemble a team that is supposed to be composed of the best players in each league.

Unfortunately, there may be another factor at play here, which may have worked against Gaddis for no fault of his own. Cleveland already has two All-Star starters in Jose Ramirez and Steven Kwan, in addition to Emmanuel Clase making it as a pitcher, and All-Star reserves Josh Naylor and David Fry. With the All-Star count sitting at 5-2 without Holmes or Gaddis in the mix, they may have decided to go with a third Yankee rather than a sixth Guardian. Yes, there is no proof of this, and this does sound like tin foil hat/conspiracy time, but the fact of this not being a farfetched proposition here does speak volumes. Either way, everyone knows who has been the better pitcher out of the bullpen thus far, and it is not the one headed to the All-Star Game.