BREAKING: Mets, Cubs Continue Nuclear Deadlines, Getting Together On A Clay Holmes Trade

Some fans were left disappointed by the New York Mets' return for Luke Weaver, one of the best relievers on the market, as the front office only pried Sammy Stafura out of Pittsburgh. So, in order to get a better prospect from the Chicago Cubs, David Stearns packaged two of his best remaining trade chips into one deal.

Yes, Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor are on the move, completing the second trade between these two teams after the David Peterson deal a month ago. In return, the Mets are receiving Jefferson Rojas, a consensus top-100 prospect with enormous upside.

Holmes, 33, has a 2.39 ERA this season, but it’s come in just nine starts. He fractured his leg in May and is just now on the cusp of a return to the majors. He’s under contract for $13 million this season, so he’s owed about $4 million the rest of the way. He can also earn $12 million in 2027, but if he comes back and pitches well the rest of the way, he’ll almost certainly opt out, which the deal allows him to do.

Meanwhile, Taylor is an excellent fourth outfielder who hits lefties well and plays solid defense at all three positions on the grass. He's exactly the kind of player every winning team needs, which makes his inclusion in the deal more understandable when it means that a player like Rojas is the return.

Speaking of, Rojas is a 21-year-old hitting .270/.339/.461 in Double-A this year, and he's got potential to be a five-tool player. He's long been seen as a "jack of all trades, master of none" kind of player, but he's played good defense at third base this year while hitting 15 homers and swiping 17 bags. He immediately becomes one of the best prospects in the farm system and is positioned to be Bo Bichette's heir apparent at the hot corner.

In truth, this trade is somewhat reminiscent of the Pete Crow-Armstrong trade from 2021, when the Cubs sent two of their better trade chips (Javier Báez and Trevor Williams) in order to land the star outfield prospect. Hopefully, this deal ages just as well for Rojas and the Mets.

View our top trade candidates list, up to nearly 70 names and updated regularly!