Nothing is going right for the New York Mets at the moment. It seems the franchise has finally come to terms that this has been a lost season, requiring a hard reset as we approach the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
In the first big domino to fall, the Mets have reportedly traded left-hander David Peterson to the Chicago Cubs, per sources. This was expected as Peterson lost his spot in the Mets rotation and was turning free agent at the end of the season.
The trade details are yet to emerge, but it is a solid indication of how the franchise is approaching the rest of the season after sitting with one of the worst records in all of baseball.
Trade news: The Chicago Cubs are acquiring left-hander David Peterson from the New York Mets, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 25, 2026
The Peterson trade is indicative of a lot of things since he was the longest-tenured player in the Mets. He made his debut with the Mets in 2020. Previously, team president David Stearns expressed confidence in the Mets, saying the front office is willing to give more time to the roster to get back into contention before going for a sell-off. However, the latest trade suggests that the Mets have committed to harsh deadline measures.
As for Peterson, the change in scenery could help his miserable season, where he has posted a 6.09 ERA. His 3.85 FIP and 51.1 percent ground-ball rate show that he has not been a bad pitcher. The Cubs have one of the best MLB infields and, therefore, going there could possibly improve his ERA numbers significantly.
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Jeff Passan reports David Peterson was just a start for Mets
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, rival executives expect the Mets move more players before the deadline. This puts several veterans on the spotlight and also those who will turn free agent after the season.
Peterson had lost his spot in New York’s rotation and will be a free agent after the season. Just how much of a sell-off the Mets engage in will be one of the big stories leading up to the Aug. 3 deadline. But this is the first piece, and rival executives expect plenty more.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 25, 2026
The Mets spent aggressively over the offseason, adding Freddy Peralta, Bo Bichette and Luis Robert Jr. However, the underwhelming performances have rendered them to a spot where they have no choice but to already consider 2026 a lost year.