If Chicago Cubs fans wanted Jed Hoyer to be aggressive at the trade deadline, then they shouldn’t be disappointed. The Cubs have followed up the acquisition of Kevin Gausman, Ryan Zeferjahn, and Braxton Garrett by trading for the top rental starter on the market not named Tarik Skubal.
The New York Mets traded ground ball specialist David Peterson in June, and now they’ve traded the ground ball specialist, Clay Holmes, to the Cubs, adding outfielder Tyrone Taylor in the deal. It cost the Cubs a top-100 prospect, as shortstop Jefferson Rojas is headed to the Mets.
What made Hoyer willing to take the risk? Well, he has the potential MVP with Pete Crow-Armstrong, the top-rated defense in MLB, and now the weakest part of the team has been strengthened, thanks in large part to the emergence of rookie Pedro Ramirez. The Cubs also still have Matt Shaw, another young player who can play multiple positions.
Josiah Hartshorn and Owen Ayers have broken out in the minor leagues this season, giving the Cubs’ front office the opportunity to pull the trigger on a big move. Holmes has a $12 million option for the 2027 season, but he’s effectively a rental at this point for the Cubs after he was good in his first year as a starter in 2025, which the right-hander followed with an impressive beginning to 2026.
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Holmes is coming back from an injury, but it’s not arm-related. He was drilled with a line drive back in May that broke his right fibula. The right-handed pitcher has made three rehab appearances in the minors, and now he’s ready to go for the Cubs.
Prior to the leg injury, Holmes made nine starts, posting the following stats: 52.2 IP, 2.39 ERA, 3.21 FIP, 20.9 K%, 8.4 BB%, 1.10 WHIP. The right-hander has a 56% ground-ball rate in 2026, 62% throughout his career. Last year, Holmes started 31 games and recorded a 3.53 ERA in 165.2 innings.
The 33-year-old would be an ideal candidate to sign an extension with the Cubs, as his pitching profile perfectly fits this roster. For now, the Cubs are focused on their playoff push, hoping their deadline additions, coupled with returning pitchers, can put them over the top in October.
