Mets Trade Struggling Starter to Pitching-Needy Cubs

The MLB trade deadline is still six weeks away, but the lowly New York Mets have begun trading assets.

On Wednesday evening, the Mets traded struggling left-handed starting pitcher David Peterson to the pitching-needy Chicago Cubs. In return, the Cubs sent No. 13 ranked prospect first baseman/third baseman/DH Cole Mathis to the Mets.

The Cubs are desperate for starting pitching after losing starters' Edward Cabrera (hamstring) and Ben Brown (neck strain) on the same day to the IL. They're also without Jameson Taillon, Justin Steele and Cade Horton. Matthew Boyd has been on the IL since early-May, but will return later today to start against the Mets in the series finale between the two teams.

Peterson lost his spot in the Mets' starting rotation on multiple occasions this season. The southpaw has posted an abysmal 6.09 ERA, 1.647 WHIP and four walks per nine innings in 16 appearances and eight starts in 2026.

However, Peterson has a 3.85 FIP and 52.9 percent groundball rate (89th percentile) this season. These strengths should fit nicely with Chicago given the Cubs have the best infield defense in baseball.

Peterson is expected to slot into the Cubs' injury riddled rotation until the unit gets healthier.

As for Mathis, a second-round draft pick of the Cubs in 2024, he's slashing .272/.396/.585 with a .981 OPS, 10 homers and 39 RBI in 39 games across Low-A and High-A ball this year.

Chicago has won the first three games of their series against the Mets at Citi Field, including a doubleheader sweep yesterday. They will go for the four-game series sweep with Boyd on the mound Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Mets have lost five straight games and are a season-worst 12 games under .500 at 34-46. The Mets are 14.5 games back in the NL East and nine games back of the third and final Wild Card spot in the NL. Essentially, it's over for the Mets in 2026. As a result, they have started to trade away players, beginning with Peterson.

Peterson was the longest-tenured Met and a first-round draft pick by New York back in 2017. He made the All-Star team for the first time in his career last season, but never quite fully reached his potential in Queens.