Just 14 months after starting the 2025 season off hot and posting the best record in the National League through the end of May, the New York Mets have officially completed one of the most stunning collapses in MLB history. Now at serious risk of finishing with the worst record in the National League in 2026, New York has undergone a complete fire sale, trading promising right-hander Clay Holmes in the latest move.
Here are the full trade details:
New York Mets Receive:
- INF Jefferson Rojas
Chicago Cubs Receive:
- RHP Clay Holmes
- OF Tyrone Taylor
Trade Grade:
Mets: As the Mets are going to miss the playoffs and have the second-highest payroll in baseball, they clearly needed to make changes, taking away every last bit of leverage they held on some of their better players. New York already traded away relievers Brooks Raley and Luke Weaver, as well as starter Freddy Peralta, so the fact that Holmes was also dealt shouldn’t come as a surprise. Rojas is an excellent acquisition; as the Cubs’ second-ranked prospect, he’s slashing .270/.339/.799 in Double-A, and he’s slugged 15 homers in 91 games as a five-foot-11 shortstop. The Mets will seemingly hang on to Francisco Lindor, but third baseman Bo Bichette has been a disappointment and second baseman Marcus Semien even worse, so Rojas could be a long-term answer at any infield position besides first. They do have another highly-touted shortstop prospect in Elian Peña, and although his .748 OPS for Single-A Port St. Lucie is impressive for an 18-year-old, Rojas is far more pro-ready.
Grade: A
Cubs: Holmes was a rare bright spot in New York’s incredibly disappointing season, as he had a 2.39 ERA through his first nine starts of the season before fracturing his fibula on a comebacker in the Mets’ loss to the cross-town Yankees on May 15. After missing some nine weeks, he’s made three rehab starts across three different minor-league levels, and although he only performed well for Single-A St. Lucie, Chicago clearly felt confident in his stuff. At his best, Holmes is definitely an upgrade; the Cubs rank just 14th in rotation ERA, and they traded away Jameson Taillon earlier this weekend. In particular, Chicago’s staff has been below-average at inducing ground balls, and Holmes ranks in the 95th percentile in that stat. Still, since Rojas is the team’s second-ranked prospect (63rd overall) and the Cubs also traded for Kevin Gausman, it feels like a bit of an overpay. Dansby Swanson and Alex Bregman have both been okay this season, but each is 32. Chicago does have some depth in utility infielder Pedro Ramírez, but Rojas is versatile and could be ready to contribute as soon as these playoffs.
Grade: B
