Yankees to get ‘creative’ with closer role amid Clay Holmes’ disaster stretch

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Yankees are opening the door for their closer role, even while Aaron Boone still would not shut it on Clay Holmes.

A day after Holmes’ league-leading 11th blown save of the season, Boone said the Yankees would get “creative” with how they close out games moving forward, likely giving different relievers save opportunities based on matchups.

That could include Jake Cousins, Luke Weaver and Tommy Kahnle — in addition to Holmes on a given night — and potentially (eventually) a starter like Luis Gil with the Yankees facing a rotation crunch.

“In the short term, just try to put these guys in the best position to be successful,” Boone said Wednesday at Globe Life Field before the series finale against the Rangers. “How that shakes out may vary a little bit every night, but in the short term, that’s the way we’ll go.

“Want to support Clay through this. … The reality is he’s really not that far off from being the dominant guy we know he can be. But in the short term, we’ll certainly be a little creative down there.”

Asked if someone like Gil or Clarke Schmidt could factor into the late innings down the road, Boone said, “Never say never.”