Cubs Acquire Left-Hander David Peterson from Mets

Chicago will send infield prospect Cole Mathis to New York in the deal.

Who Is David Peterson?

Peterson, 30, has spent his entire career with the Mets since being drafted in the first round in 2017. He made his MLB debut in 2020 and was an All-Star in 2025.

In 2026, however, he has struggled significantly. He owns a 6.09 ERA with a 3-6 record in 16 appearances (8 starts) across 68 innings. His WHIP sits at 1.64, and he has struck out 63 batters. Despite the inflated ERA, his FIP (3.85) and high groundball rate (over 50%) suggest he has been somewhat unlucky and could benefit from better defensive support.

What This Means for the Cubs

The Cubs have been searching for starting pitching help as injuries have piled up all season. Adding Peterson gives them a left-handed arm who has shown he can be effective when things are going right. Passan noted that Peterson’s groundball tendencies could play well with Chicago’s elite infield defense.

While Peterson is not a frontline starter, he provides organizational depth and could serve as a swingman or back-end rotation option depending on how the rest of the staff holds up.