As the MLB trade deadline approaches, the Chicago Cubs find themselves staring at a rotation in need of urgent reinforcement. With Cade Horton sidelined for the season and both Justin Steele and Ben Brown dealing with uncertain timelines, the front office under Jed Hoyer must weigh every realistic avenue to stabilize the staff.
One name that has surfaced in recent reporting is Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta, and the potential cost of acquiring him has already sparked debate on the North Side.
The Mets are seeking a top-100 prospect and additional pieces in exchange for Peralta, a rather steep price for a pitcher with a 4.99 ERA.
Said price immediately narrows the field of realistic suitors, yet the Cubs remain an intriguing match on paper. Peralta’s remaining salary sits under three million dollars for the rest of the year, a modest figure for a pitcher with postseason experience and a recent top-five Cy Young finish.
Craig Counsell’s prior relationship with the right-hander from their shared time in Milwaukee adds another layer of familiarity that could help the transition. Moving from a struggling Mets defense to the Cubs’ elite infield and outfield alignment might also allow Peralta to post more consistent results than he has managed so far this season.
Still, any conversation about Peralta must confront the reality of what Chicago would be asked to surrender, and Zachary Rotman of FanSided has the Cubbies giving up quite an expensive haul. His proposal? Top shortstop/third base prospect Jefferson Rojas as well as first baseman/outfielder Jonathon Long, the No. 10 prospect in the Cubs’ system. Chicago would receive Peralta and relief pitcher Huascar Brazoban in return.
That’s certainly a risky investment in a pitcher who is not performing at his peak and who becomes a free agent after the season. Attaching Brazoban to the deal softens the blow somewhat. Brazoban, despite his age, has three more years of club control and has posted strong numbers this year while showing the ability to work multiple innings. For a Cubs bullpen looking for reliable late-inning arms, that controllable piece carries genuine value.
Even so, the overall return would feel heavy from a Chicago perspective. Rojas has shown power and speed in Double-A and offers positional versatility, even if questions linger about his long-term defensive home.
With Alex Bregman, Dansby Swanson, and Nico Hoerner already locking down the infield, Rojas lacks a clear everyday path on the current roster, yet that does not diminish his trade value. Shipping him out for a rental starter and an aging though effective reliever would require the organization to believe that Peralta can still deliver meaningful innings down the stretch and into October.
Long, a productive Triple-A bat without a clear role behind Michael Busch, is more expendable, but pairing him with a top prospect still elevates the price tag considerably.
Hoyer has shown willingness to deal from the system when the right opportunity arises, yet this particular package would test that philosophy.
Missing out on higher-upside targets would leave Peralta as one of the more attainable options still available, and the combination of starting depth plus a controllable high-leverage arm could help the Cubs protect their position in the National League wild-card race.
Whether that help justifies parting with a prospect of Rojas’s caliber remains an open and difficult question. From the Cubs’ side of the ledger, the proposed exchange would constitute a substantial commitment for a pitcher whose current form does not fully match his track record, even when Brazoban’s multi-year control is factored in. The coming days will reveal whether Chicago views the risk as worthwhile.
