Cubs acquiring LHP David Peterson from Mets, sources say - ESPN

The Chicago Cubs, desperate to bolster a starting rotation ravaged by injuries, agreed to acquire struggling New York Mets left-hander David Peterson in exchange for minor league infielder Cole Mathis on Wednesday night, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan, hours after completing a doubleheader sweep of the Mets at Citi Field.

Right-handers Edward Cabrera (hamstring) and Ben Brown (neck) became the latest Cubs starters to go on the injured list Wednesday, joining Justin Steele (elbow), Cade Horton (elbow), Jameson Taillon (hamstring) and Matthew Boyd (knee). Of the Cubs' projected starters to open the season, only left-hander Shota Imanaga is on the active roster, though Boyd is slated to return from the IL to start Thursday's series finale against the Mets.

In Peterson, the Cubs receive a veteran who has tumbled from All-Star to one of the worst starters in the majors since the second half of the 2025 season. Peterson, a ground ball specialist, owned a 2.83 ERA on Aug. 6 through 21 starts. Since then, he has a 6.98 ERA in 17 starts and eight relief appearances.

The Mets' longest-tenured player, Peterson threw his final pitch for the franchise on Sunday, when he allowed five runs (four earned) over four innings in a 6-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. It had been the 2017 first-round pick's first start in nearly a month; the Mets had used an opener for Peterson in his previous four outings and were likely to use one for him again Friday against the Phillies.

His precipitous decline exacerbated the Mets' rotation troubles. What had been considered a strength entering the season has become a calamity with a 4.97 starter ERA that ranks 28th in the majors. The problem has only intensified in June with a 6.78 ERA that ranks