The Chicago Cubs have made a strategic decision to strengthen their pitching roster by acquiring David Peterson, a 30-year-old pitcher from the New York Mets. This trade comes in the wake of Peterson’s recent struggles, including being removed from the Mets’ starting rotation in April.

Over the course of the season, Peterson has grappled with performance challenges, holding a 6.09 ERA and a negative WAR by late June. Despite contributing to six of the Mets’ National League East-worst 44 losses, he now stands as a beacon of hope for the Cubs.

The Cubs traded minor league first baseman/designated hitter Cole Mathis for Peterson. Mathis, at 22, had an impressive .860 OPS in 25 games playing for High-A South Bend.

The Cubs face setbacks with injuries to key pitchers, Ben Brown and Edward Cabrera, impacting their rotation. Currently, the Cubs hold a 43-37 record, trailing the Milwaukee Brewers by seven games in the National League Central division. If the season concluded at this moment, they would seize the third Wild Card position in the National League.

Despite his recent struggles, Peterson’s 3.85 FIP matches closely with his career average of 3.91, indicating potential improvement with the Cubs’ superior defense compared to the Mets.

Notably, Peterson earned recognition as an effective ground-ball pitcher. His 2025 season was marked by career highs in innings pitched (168.2), strikeouts (150), and starts (30).

Should the Cubs opt to shift Peterson into a bullpen role, his past experience will serve them well. In 2024, during the Mets’ journey to the National League Championship Series, Peterson showcased his ability in relief, achieving a 2.92 ERA across five postseason appearances.

As the Cubs strive to enhance their rotation, Peterson will join Shota Imanaga, Colin Rea, and Javier Assad. The team anticipates the return of Matthew Boyd from the injured list on June 25, further boosting their lineup.