David Peterson Embraces New Beginnings with Cubs After Trade from Mets

David Peterson was driving home after Wednesday’s doubleheader when he received the news from Cubs president of baseball operations David Stearns: he had been traded to the Chicago Cubs. The longest-tenured Met, Peterson initially felt a wave of surprise but soon shifted his focus to the new opportunity ahead of him.

“Obviously some shock in the moment,” Peterson shared with reporters on Friday. “Drafted by the Mets, spent 10 years there, a lot of great memories, great people, but you kind of move on to the next step — it’s the business, so I’m excited.”

This transition marks an intriguing chapter for the 30-year-old lefty. Since making his first All-Star team last year, Peterson’s performance has dipped, struggling through a challenging second half of the previous season and continuing into this year. His statistics reflect a tough campaign, with a troubling 7.71 ERA and 1.95 WHIP as a starter. However, he has shown some promise in a bulk relief role behind an opener.

Despite the struggles, Peterson remains optimistic about his potential impact on the Cubs’ rotation, particularly noting improvements he has made. “I went through some things early in the year that we needed to clean up,” he explained. “I feel a lot better about where we’re at now; I feel like myself back in ’24, ’25 — I’m excited for the opportunity to start and get the routine back.”

One significant factor in Peterson’s upcoming stint with the Cubs is the defensive support he will receive. While the Mets have faced challenges defensively this season, the Cubs rank among the league’s best in Outs Above Average and runs prevented. For a groundball pitcher like Peterson, this is a crucial advantage.

“You look at the guys around the infield and the defense as a whole, it’s hard not to be excited,” Peterson noted. “You see them statistically at the top of every list, so I’m excited to have those guys behind me on the field.”

Peterson’s debut with the Cubs is set for Saturday night in Milwaukee, where he hopes to start fresh and contribute to his new team.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.