Putting together a Cubs offer for Mets' Freddy Peralta based on rumored asking price

I'm not writing off the 2026 Chicago Cubs season, but my view of the team given how they've played over the last month has certainly shifted. Not only do I not know if they're a buyer at the trade deadline - I don't even know if they're a realistic playoff team given how bad they've looked in multiple areas.

But let's, for a second, assume that things turn around. It's July, the vibes are back in Wrigleyville and the Cubs again look like a contender. Jed Hoyer is forced to put his 'buyer' hat on and solidify a starting rotation that, to put it mildly, has left much to be desired this year and has been ravaged by injuries.

For many seasons, Tarik Skubal feels like the longest of long shots. But reuniting Craig Counsell with former Brewers and current Mets starter Freddy Peralta, who is making just $8 million this year, feels far more feasible. So what would it take to get a deal done?

According to reporting from FanSided's Robert Murray, the return will likely be one, potentially two, top-100 prospects - and maybe more, depending on the level of interest and number of suitors. Unlike in a potential Skubal trade, the Cubs wouldn't have to decimate their farm system to pull this off and have some options here.

Cubs prospects who could be included in a Freddy Peralta trade

Cubs could tap into their middle infield depth, moving a Jefferson Rojas or Pedro Ramirez in the deal. Jaxon Wiggins, the Cubs' only other top-100 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, could be moved, but hasn't pitched since early April and comes with a lot of health questions. Other names to keep an eye on include Matt Shaw or Kevin Alcantara, both of whom have been mentioned as potential trade chips in recent years.

A deal could include someone like Ramirez, who is already big-league ready, and someone like Kane Kepley, with a pitching prospect thrown in there, as well. That would allow the Cubs to keep one of their top infield prospects in Rojas, while giving the Mets multiple options to 'hit' on their side of the deal.

But, as we've talked about a lot lately, the Cubs aren't anywhere close to being buyers. They need the players already on the roster to perform. Otherwise, Chicago could very well find itself on the other side of the deadline equation come July.

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