Cubs acquire RHP Clay Holmes, send No. 2 prospect Jefferson Rojas to the Mets

Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune on Aug 3, 2026

Published in Baseball

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CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs have landed another starting pitcher, and it has cost them a top prospect.

After acquiring left-hander David Peterson from the New York Mets in June, the Cubs and Mets reached a deal on Monday to send right-hander Clay Holmes and outfielder Tyrone Taylor to Chicago, a source has confirmed to the Chicago Tribune.

In return, the Mets received infielder Jefferson Rojas, currently listed as the No. 2 prospect in the Cubs organization by MLB Pipeline.

Holmes is currently on the 60-day injured list but has been on a rehab assignment and is on the verge of returning from the right fibula fracture he sustained from a comebacker on May 15. He had been stellar for the Mets otherwise, owning a 2.39 ERA in nine starts. Since moving to the rotation for the first time in his big-league career prior to last season with the Mets, Holmes has a 3.26 ERA and 127 ERA+ over 218 1/3 innings.

Just as Peterson has benefited from leaving the Mets to pitch with the game’s best defense behind him, Holmes and his high ground-ball rate should also benefit from the elite group.

The 33-year-old holds a $12 million player option for 2027, which Holmes will likely decline to pursue a multi-year contract in free agency.

Taylor gives the Cubs a right-handed bench bat, and he can handle all three outfield spots. He spent parts of five seasons (2019-23) playing for manager Craig Counsell in Milwaukee. In 67 games for the Mets, Taylor hit 10 home runs while batting .241 with a .290 on-base percentage, .794 OPS and 116 OPS+.

The Cubs paid a hefty price to acquire Holmes and Taylor in essentially a move for rentals. Rojas impressed in big-league camp this spring, particularly his power. Rojas, 21, posted a .270/.339/.461 slash line with 15 home runs — already a career high — and 19 doubles at Double-A Knoxville this season.

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