At this point, it’s become very clear that the Chicago Cubs have been hampered by injuries in their starting rotation. However, that hasn’t stopped their winning ways. Chicago has won 10 straight MLB games and sits in first place in the National League Central.
Although it’s still early, trade rumors and speculation is starting to materialize across the league. One team that has a wealth of assets and might become sellers this summer is the New York Mets. The Cubs have already been linked to Freddy Peralta, but the Mets have another starter in Clay Holmes that could be worth trading for. The former New York Yankees All-Star starter Holmes is putting together a quality start to the season, and he should join the long list of MLB starters that the Cubs should target.
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Is Clay Holmes Emerging as a Trade Candidate?
GettyANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – MAY 3: Clay Holmes #35 of the New York Mets delivers to the plate during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 3, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale is usually a main facilitator of trade rumors across the league, and as a part of his Sunday notebook titled “MLB trade deadline rumors 2026”, Nightengale shares some insight on the possibility of the Mets being sellers:
“Still, executives and scouts believe the Mets just donât have the personnel to turn it around, putting out lineups that look more suited to rebuilding teams than the most expensive team in baseball. This is why the Mets soon may be the center of attention once they realize that this season is a lost cause, letting their rivals know they are open for business. They have three of the top trade chips in the game in starters Freddy Peralta and Clay Holmes and infielder Bo Bichette.”
If the Mets do make Clay Holmes available, the Chicago Cubs must consider trading for him. With injuries to Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd, and Justin Steele, Chicago could use another capable starter for the stretch of the regular season, or else it might be Deja Vu with what happened last year, where the Brewers surged in the later months of the season, and overtook the Cubs in the NL Central standings.
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Clay Holmes as a MLB Starter
GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 03: Clay Holmes #35 of the New York Yankees in action against the Cincinnati Reds at Yankee Stadium on July 03, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Clay Holmes is putting together great season since becoming a full-time starter. He’s been named to the All-Star team twice in his career while with the Yankees (2022, 2024), but he was a reliever at that time. He signed a two-year, $26 million deal with the Mets, but he likely opts out of his current deal after the season to test free agency.
This season, Holmes holds a 1.86 ERA over eight starts with 37 strikeouts. He leads the NL in ERA+ (215), and Holmes’ dominance highlights one of the main reasons it’s so puzzling that the Mets have struggled so mightily.
Expect the Cubs, who have World Series aspirations this season, to be linked to just about every starter made available. Chicago has some trade chips of its own and a deep farm system, which gives it the luxury of making splash moves.
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