After yet another loss, the Mets made what may very well be the first of several sell-off trades before the 2026 Deadline. David Peterson will switch locker rooms, as the left-hander is headed to the Chicago Cubs, per the New York Post, for infield prospect Cole Mathis.
The Cubs’ Return
- SP/RP David Peterson (6.09 ERA, 63 K over 68 IP)
In what is a contract year for David Peterson, it’s been a very difficult campaign for the left-hander, who entered 2026 as the longest-tenured Met heading into 2026.
A former first-round pick, Peterson was an All-Star last season. It was for a good reason, as Peterson struck out 93 over 109 innings, as well as a 3.09 ERA before the break. Then, things began to come apart for Peterson, who was not the only person to struggle during the second half of last season for New York. His walk rate jumped, and so did his ERA, as his 6.34 in the second half was less-than-stellar.
So far in 2026, things have been difficult yet again. Peterson’s .349 opponent’s wOBA ranked 112th out of the 135 starters with 50+ IP thrown this season. It’s more of a testament to how much action has been on the basepaths when Peterson is on the mound — and how many runs have scored on him this year.
Peterson is not the kind of pitcher who the computer loves, to say the least. Low-to-mid-90s fastball, and good secondary stuff have been the MO of his Major League career. As one would expect, not a lot of swing-and-miss, particularly on the fastballs. However, both the four-seamer and two-seamer help set up the secondary stuff, particularly his slider.
He’s leaned a lot more on the slider this season, as his sinker’s been hit more by opposing hitters.
The plus side that does work in Peterson’s favor: he’s long been a groundball-heavy pitcher throughout his career, dating back to his Minor League days.
Peterson worked in several roles this year, including a starter and a bulk arm out of the bullpen.
The Mets’ Return
- 1B Cole Mathis (.272/.396/.585, 10 HR & 24 XBH over 39 GP (A & A+))
The Cubs made Cole Mathis a second-round pick out of the College of Charleston two years ago. Mathis didn’t start well in his junior season, although he ended it well and finished with a .335 average and 14 home runs in the CAA.
Last year, Mathis missed most of the regular season and only played 29 games overall. He’s played 39 this season, although he missed much of June to this point and was recently placed on the IL. However, the numbers were very good.
Mathis, from an analytics standpoint, checks all the boxes. During the first month of 2026, Mathis had a Pull FB% of 14.7% and an overall FB% of 35%. Both figures matter, especially when trying to model what kind of hitter one actually is.
Not a ton of swing-and-miss (22.5% Whiff% in April with Low-A), either. Mathis doesn’t have a lengthy swing, a toe-tap in the swing, and he’s also been known to be a high-take hitter, as well. He walked 27 times in 39 games.
Mathis has limited experience at third. He’s likely a first baseman in the long run.
Analysis
This felt more like a trade needed of necessity for the Cubs, more than anything else.
The Cubs have been decimated by injuries to their rotation. Matthew Boyd will come back on June 25 but the losses have piled up. Edward Cabrera & Ben Brown went on the injured list on the 24th, Jameson Taillon & Cade Horton (done for 2026) are out, and Justin Steele is unlikely to pitch this season as a starter. And even if Steele comes back, it won’t be until September.
Peterson is not a low-risk pickup by any stretch of the imagination. But, as a groundball pitcher on a team filled with good defenders in the infield, this move does have some upside.
As for the Mets, this could be the beginning of a lengthy six-week march towards the Trade Deadline. New York lost their third-straight game to the Cubs, in control of a Wild Card spot, on the 24th. Playoffs, right now, are unlikely.
So, the Mets do accrue an asset back in Mathis, someone who’s got some pop and upside. But given how things have gone, this is likely not the only move to be made by the Mets over the coming weeks.
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