Cubs trade for LHP David Peterson for MiLB player Cole Mathis

[Jason Ross]

The (former) Mets starter will presumably have an easy time joining the Cubs considering they're in New York.

Return is Cole Mathis:

 

[squally1313]

(does 30 seconds of research on the high level numbers of his fangraphs page)

This is our best healthy pitcher

[Jason Ross]

2 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

(does 30 seconds of research on the high level numbers of his fangraphs page)

This is our best healthy pitcher

Yeah I don't super hate Peterson. He's not "good" but he does a pretty okay job on getting whiffs and Ks, and gets a ton of ground balls. His xFIP is 2 points higher than his ERA. 

He won't win the Cubs the division, but he probably stabilizes the rotation for a little bit and I'm going to assume he's cheap. 

A lot of ground balls with the Cubs sounds like a good idea. 

[Jason Ross]

Cole Mathis goes the other way. 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

I'm guessing a low minors flyer like a Lovich

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

1 minute ago, Jason Ross said:

Cole Mathis goes the other way. 

Nevermind, damn

[Jason Ross]

Just now, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

Nevermind, damn

I'm fine with Mathis going. He just hasn't wow'd me offensively yet. He's good, and his approach is pretty solid, but a 116 wRC+ from a DH/1b at A+ isn't a home run prospect. 

Mathis isnt bad and the Cubs did give up a real prospect but I think he's pretty expendable all considered. 

[Tryptamine]

Giving up anyone of value for half a season of Peterson is a loss.

[Jason Ross]

6 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Giving up anyone of value for half a season of Peterson is a loss.

Just not sure Mathis has a ton of value right now. Limited defensively and hasn't hit for a ton of HR power. He has a pathway to the MLB but it's pretty narrow and narrowing as we move forward. 

As a possible 3b? Far more interesting. But he has 2 starts there in South Bend and it seems like a pretty long shot. 

At 1b, a 116 wRC+ is just less exciting. Mathis is a prospect, but I think value wise his 2nd round pedigree is doing some od the heavy lifting. And less-so Mathis' on field production. 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

1 minute ago, Tryptamine said:

Giving up anyone of value for half a season of Peterson is a loss.

I mean, this isn't some "go for it" move. They're desperate for a guy to eat innings until someone gets healthy and there's no one in the org that can really do it right now

[squally1313]

Prospect hugging because of team control is dumb. Where will we ever find a slightly above average hitter that can’t play a position and is miles away from the big leagues. 

[Post Count Padder]

I'd be more ok with it if Peterson had another year of control but we need a healthy not terrible starter and his underlying numbers are better than the ERA indicates. Losing Mathis is a bummer but it's not an insane overpay. 

[Tryptamine]

4 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

Just not sure Mathis has a ton of value right now. Limited defensively and hasn't hit for a ton of HR power. He has a pathway to the MLB but it's pretty narrow and narrowing as we move forward. 

As a possible 3b? Far more interesting. But he has 2 starts there in South Bend and it seems like a pretty long shot. 

At 1b, a 116 wRC+ is just less exciting. Mathis is a prospect, but I think value wise his 2nd round pedigree is doing the heavy lifting. And not Mathis' on field production. 

It's not even about Mathis who I'm pretty much neutral on. It's giving up an asset for a guy who has been a dumpster fire. You could have found one of those on waivers for free.

[Jason Ross]

Just now, Tryptamine said:

It's not even about Mathis who I'm pretty much neutral on. It's giving up an asset for a guy who has been a dumpster fire. You could have found one of those on waivers for free.

Has he been one? His underlying FIP is 3.85 and his xFIP is 4.05. his LOB% is 60%: unsustainably high. He's an extreme ground ball pitcher. Did you see the Mets defense today? They entered today with a -8 OAA. He goes to the Cubs who have arguably the best infield defense in baseball.

I don't want to make him out to be a star, but I'd expect the elite ground ball pitcher to be closer to his xFIP with the elite defense of the Cubs. And getting a 4.05 xFIP pitcher for three months for Mathis? Think that's fair value. 

[Post Count Padder]

 

 

[chibears55]

Hoyer grabbing any arms he can get now to try and survive to the deadline 

[Rcal10]

Just now, chibears55 said:

Hoyer grabbing any arms he can get now to try and survive to the deadline 

True. And it is the right thing to do. Peterson will be much better with the Cubs due to much better defense. 

[NorthsideAvenger]

I see Chris Paddack elected free agency. Would not surprise me Jed gives him a call.

Get Peterson off that Mets team that is already looking forward to the off-season and I think he can be a useful arm. Though we all agree Cubs need a higher upside arm.

[Jason Ross]

1 minute ago, NorthsideAvenger said:

I see Chris Paddack elected free agency. Would not surprise me Jed gives him a call.

Get Peterson off that Mets team that is already looking forward to the off-season and I think he can be a useful arm. Though we all agree Cubs need a higher upside arm.

Yeah. Peterson is a good Taillon type upgrade. When everyone is healthy, he'd be a good 4 or 5. He can stabilize the rotation for a few weeks while the Cubs can figure out the upper end SP. 

[UMFan83]

Peterson has been on the Cubs for an hour, is he injured yet?

[I owned a Suzuki]

Obviously being desperate put the Cubs in a bad spot.....in that context I dont mind this trade. Mostly because Mathis is meh and I dont think he would be that important of a piece to land a more substantial pitcher

[Stratos]

1 hour ago, Tryptamine said:

It's not even about Mathis who I'm pretty much neutral on. It's giving up an asset for a guy who has been a dumpster fire. You could have found one of those on waivers for free.

I think Peterson is an average to slightly above average SP, with possibly a tad more in the tank, and is a better pitcher than Taillon or Rea.  I like the GB% with our infield, should make his ERA play up and help with our huge HR problem.

I think Mathis is an ok prospect at best and we won't miss him.

I like the trade, and we needed it desperately.

Edited 7 hours ago by Stratos

[NorthsideAvenger]

I wonder if the Cubs will talk to the Mets again after tomorrow's game about someone like Luke Weaver or Brazoban?

[Eeyore]

3 hours ago, UMFan83 said:

Peterson has been on the Cubs for an hour, is he injured yet?

I heard that he plans to step in as the new drummer for Spinal Tap which is slightly safer than being a Cubs' starting pitcher.

[Bertz]

Wow, this is a lot better than I assumed we could do in these circumstances.  Peterson's a league average / good #4 type starter.  Good stop the bleeding type of move.  I would think unless he bombs or by some miracle we get everyone healthy (plus another trade) he's in the rotation for the long haul this year.

I like Mathis, and there's probably some level of desperation premium here, but I find it hard to sweat losing our ~15th ranked prospect too much.