Cubs roster cut just made them an even better fit for these NY Mets trade candidates

The Chicago Cubs managed to pry David Peterson away from the New York Mets (where’s the sarcasm font option?) and they’re a match for more deals before the August 3 deadline. On Monday, their latest roster cut confirmed they’ll be contenders to take more from the Mets.

After getting cut by the Los Angeles Angels, Drew Pomeranz made his way over to the Cubs on a fresh free agent deal. A 5.01 ERA with the Angels and even worse 7.94 ERA with Chicago, he’ll head back to the waiver wire and possibly into free agency. The Cubs got back some bodies and weren’t ready to wait it out. He has been DFA'd again.

Chicago’s lefty bullpen situation was already up in the air with Ryan Rolison as their top choice and a mix of Hoby Milner (currently on the IL) and Caleb Thielbar (39-years-old with a 4.40 ERA) offering them innings this season, too. The Cubs showed they have a preference to carry three lefties. If that hasn’t changed, A.J. Minter and Brooks Raley are a match.

A.J. Minter and Brooks Raley make even more sense for the Cubs, so could some other Mets pitchers

Milner is projected to come back in early August. Thielbar, with his performance, could be a player they move aside in favor of Minter or Raley who’d be an improvement. Chicago has several ways to build their bullpen for a final run. One priority could be to add a legitimate closer. They haven’t had a true closer all season.

Neither Minter nor Raley would give them that while Luke Weaver could. Although Weaver hasn’t been the Mets closer this season, his experience and success in the role should make him a match for teams like the Cubs in need of a final defense in the ninth inning. There aren’t a whole lot of great closer options we should expect to get moved at the trade deadline. Weaver, with the Mets asking for a haul, could end up as one of the best.

Both Chicago clubs are a match for a few of the Mets pitchers who could get traded. In addition to the relievers, the starting pitchers are a fit. In fact, if the Cubs feel so inclined to move Peterson to the bullpen sooner than later, they could target Freddy Peralta or Clay Holmes.

Every pitcher injury, DFA, or disaster on the mound for a guy with options should give teams a reason to call David Stearns about the cost of their pitchers. The Minter and Raley duo fit a niche with the only downside to their trade value being that everyone knows the Mets have to trade them.

Fortunately the two weeks leading up to the trade deadline tends to be when lefty relievers are most popular. Whether they do serious damage against lefties, have reverse splits, or they’re pretty even, southpaw relief pitchers are coveted this time of year. The Mets have two of the best. The Cubs are now a little better of a match for a second deal with Mets for an arm.

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