Cubs Ask Mets About Freddy Peralta as New York Mets Slide Continues
The new york mets are in the middle of a rotation-market conversation after the Cubs inquired about Freddy Peralta, a right-hander Chicago has checked on while dealing with injuries. The inquiry comes as the Cubs sit 26-12 and the Mets sit 14-23, a gap in current results that could shape how aggressive both teams get later.
Cubs check on Peralta
Bruce Levine reported that the Cubs had asked about Peralta’s potential availability. A Cubs source then pushed the picture a step narrower, saying the club has been exploring the rotation market at large but has not had specific discussions with the Mets about him.
That split matters because it shows Chicago is doing the kind of early-market work contenders often do before July, not necessarily lining up a deal. Peralta is also a familiar name for Craig Counsell, who knows him from their time together in Milwaukee.
Cubs rotation hit hard
Chicago’s interest lines up with a battered rotation. Cade Horton is done for the season, Justin Steele had a setback while rehabbing from a UCL procedure performed last April, and he is now expected to be sidelined beyond the All-Star break.
Matthew Boyd also went down after suffering a partial meniscus tear that required surgery, and he is expected to miss around six weeks. Those absences leave the Cubs looking deeper than a simple depth move, even with the team tied with the Yankees and Braves for the game’s best record at 26-12.
The Cubs’ early success gives them room to stay active, but it also raises the cost of standing still if the injuries pile up. Peralta fits the kind of arm they can monitor while the market develops over the next two and a half months or so.
Mets sit 14-23
New York’s side of the equation is less urgent in the standings, at least for now. The Mets were 14-23, tied with the Giants for the worst record in baseball, with a minus-28 run differential and 6 and a half games back of a Wild Card spot.
That record does not make a deal likely on its own, but it explains why Peralta is drawing attention. The Pirates held the final Wild Card spot at 21-17, and the Nationals were 18-20 and three games back of the race, so the margin around the Mets was still tight enough to keep options open for longer than the standings might suggest.
For now, Chicago has only tested the waters and New York has not shown a willingness to seriously entertain offers on Peralta. The next shift will come when the market tightens and the Cubs have to decide whether their 26-12 start is strong enough to justify paying for rotation help.
