With Deadline dust settled, when will Holmes, Gausman debut?

CHICAGO -- Clay Holmes had a strong sense that he would be on the move at the Trade Deadline given how this season has gone for the Mets to this point. When the veteran righty heard it was the Cubs, he started to get excited.

Beyond the chance to reconnect with some players he already knows in Chicago’s clubhouse, or the ability to pitch in front of the Cubs’ elite defense, there was the fact that he was walking into a postseason chase. Holmes has pitched in 19 playoff games in his career, including five World Series games against the Dodgers in ‘24, but a ring has been elusive.

“You want to win your last game,” Holmes said on Tuesday. “You put in all the work, you put in all the preparation, you forge relationships to be a team that wins it at the end. And to know you have a real chance to do that, especially at this point in the season, is energizing.

“I’ve felt it before in my career. I’ve lost a World Series. And there’s that hunger of wanting to be the last team standing.”

Holmes and outfielder Tyrone Taylor arrived at Wrigley Field on Tuesday after being acquired from the Mets in exchange for highly touted infield prospect Jefferson Rojas. Reliever Ryan Zeferjahn -- reeled in by the Cubs in a trade with the Angels -- also walked into the old ballpark a couple hours before Tuesday night’s clash with the Dodgers and ace Tarik Skubal.

Taylor and Zeferjahn were officially added to the Cubs’ active roster, with outfielder Kevin Alcántara (optioned to Triple-A Iowa) and righty Jake Woodford (designated for assignment) removed to clear room. Veteran righty Kevin Gausman, who was acquired from the Blue Jays on Sunday night, will be joining the Cubs soon as well.

“This is a complete team,” Holmes said. “You have the defense, the lineup, the pitching. Just to see the roster, I mean, it’s an exciting group.”

Holmes is currently on the 60-day injured list after a comebacker on May 15 fractured his right fibula, but the righty is poised to be activated for his Cubs debut for his next outing. Holmes logged 73 pitches in 5 1/3 innings of a rehab outing with High-A Brooklyn on Sunday, putting him in line to likely take the ball for the North Siders on Friday in Kansas City.

Holmes said he felt ready to return to the Majors in the previous outing, but was at least happy to stay on a regular five-day schedule as the Mets explored his market at the Deadline.

“That routine is kind of an anchor,” Holmes said. “I knew there was going to be an end date to the rehab. Really, it was doing what I could within my routine to be the best I can when that day was coming. I feel really confident and really prepared about what I’ve been able to do. For that to be here with the Chicago Cubs is going to be amazing.”

Gausman last pitched on Saturday in an emotional final outing for the Blue Jays, making for some speculation that his Cubs debut could fall Thursday in a makeup game against Toronto at Wrigley Field. That is not in the plans, according to manager Craig Counsell. The skipper will discuss it over with Gausman, but Saturday on the road against the Royals looks like the likely day for Gausman’s first start with Chicago.

The Cubs have made it clear that Holmes is going to be in their rotation, but his history as an elite-level closer adds an intriguing layer to a postseason setting. Across the ‘22-24 seasons with the Yankees, Holmes had a 2.85 ERA in 195 games, including 123 games finished and 74 saves.

For his part, Holmes said he is open to any role for the Cubs, especially come October.

“You want to do whatever you can to win a ballgame at that point,” Holmes said. “I think that’s what makes the playoffs so fun is it’s really not about one person, it’s not about a role. It’s about, what do you have to give? And, what can you do for the team to win? Whatever it is down the stretch -- whether they need a starter, the bullpen -- I just love being out there when big outs are needed. Whenever that is, I’m all for it.”

Counsell said being open-minded about roles is important for Chicago’s entire group.

“He’s going to start,” Counsell said. “I mean, look, as the season goes on, I think more is on the table as we go here, absolutely. Not specific to Clay. Really, it’s specific to kind of everybody here.”