Grading the overnight NY Mets trade of David Peterson to the Cubs

In a late-night for some, the party’s just getting started stunner, the New York Mets found a taker for David Peterson shortly before midnight. David Peterson will join the Chicago Cubs for the final game of their four this week making travel arrangements easy for the longtime Mets pitcher. The longest tenured player on the MLB roster goes to a Cubs team desperate for pitching. They lost Edward Cabrera earlier in the week to injury.

In times like these, a team might do just about anything to get innings. The Cubs, despite winning three straight over the Mets, were even willing to give the Mets a legitimate prospect albeit not a highly ranked one.

Cole Mathis, their 13th ranked prospect, heads to the Mets organization. A 22-year-old corner infielder (mostly first baseman) currently on the IL, there’s actually a lot to appreciate about this deal. What grade does it deserve?

Grade for the Mets-Cubs trade of David Peterson: A

Cubs fans might be thinking “wow, we actually got a big league pitcher for an unneeded lower-level prospect.” Mets fans know better. Those innings you’ll get from Peterson might have to come in bulk relief roles, the one situation where he has done well this season. The exhaustive nature of Peterson needing to have innings one and/or two covered to be effective at all has the consequence of burning one of your better relievers early. If the opener or Peterson struggles, your plans for the following day suffer.

We know about Peterson, an impending free agent who might be able to give the Cubs some legitimate outings in some capacity. What about Mathis?

Drafted in the second round in 2024, he’s hitting .292/.396/.585 in the minors this year through 182 plate appearances. This has all come in A-Ball which is hardly an indicator of what he will eventually be. Nevertheless, results are results.

Likely to situate himself as a first baseman, it’s not a bad position to have depth at. The Mets don’t have any sure thing lurking in the minor leagues. Ryan Clifford is too familiar with the Mendoza Line. Randy Guzman is intriguing, but also further away from the majors.

While not rhyming directly, the Mets acquiring an injured prospect from the Cubs for a rental and seeing him blossom into a key piece in the future would be the ultimate Pete Crow-Armstrong payback. Hopefully we still have Keith Hernandez in the booth to comment.

What’s not to like about the trade? Peterson was beginning to become a DFA candidate. To get someone of any legitimacy is satisfying.

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