MILWAUKEE -- David Peterson took a seat in the visitors’ dugout at American Family Field on Friday afternoon, wearing a new uniform for the first time as a Major Leaguer. The Mets are the only team the lefty had known, but he is now suddenly learning his way around the Cubs.
Peterson found out late Wednesday night that he had been traded to Chicago.
“Some shock in the moment,” Peterson said. “I was drafted by the Mets -- spent 10 years there. A lot of good memories, a lot of great people and friendships that I'll have for a long time. But you kind of move on to the next step. It’s the business of the game. I’m excited for the opportunity.”
The Cubs acquired Peterson in exchange for Minor Leaguer Cole Mathis and officially added the left-hander to the active roster ahead of Friday’s game against the Brewers. Peterson, who is scheduled to make his first start for his new team on Saturday night, assumed the roster spot vacated by reliever Phil Maton (right knee tendinitis) being placed on the 15-day injured list.
Injuries have been an unfortunate theme this season for Chicago, and a part of why Peterson is getting this chance to right his season with the Cubs. At the moment, the North Siders are without starters Ben Brown (15-day IL, neck strain), Jameson Taillon (15-day IL, left hamstring strain), Edward Cabrera (15-day IL, left hamstring and left adductor strains), Justin Steele (60-day IL, left elbow flexor strain) and Cade Horton (60-day, right elbow surgery).
The Cubs needed help in the rotation, and the 30-year-old Peterson offered a bounceback candidate who might benefit from putting on the new uniform. The lefty had a 2.90 ERA in 21 starts in 2024 and made the National League All-Star team with a strong first half last year, but he has struggled this year (6.09 ERA in 68 innings) in New York.
“Sometimes a change of scenery is a good thing,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “I think going to your second team as a professional baseball player, that’s a big deal. Ten years with one team is a long time. Not many guys spend 10 years with the same organization. That’s a nod to how successful David has been.
“When things aren’t going well, sometimes just a fresh start is something that can re-energize you, re-focus you, hopefully gets you to a good place. And hopefully we can provide that.”
The Cubs are also hopeful that Peterson, who has a five-pitch arsenal led by a sinker, will be helped by Chicago’s defense. With a high ground-ball rate (51.0% in his career and as high as 54.2% last season), Peterson will now be working in front of a defense that entered Friday leading the Majors in outs above average (38) and runs prevented (31).
“It’s huge,” Peterson said. “You look at the guys around the infield and the defense as a whole, it’s hard not to be excited about that group. You see them statistically at the top of every list. I’m excited to have those guys behind me on the field.”
Maton back to IL
The Cubs are hoping that this latest stint on the IL for Maton will give the veteran reliever time to rest his knee, while also focusing on some mechanical tweaks.
The 33-year-old Maton is dealing with right knee tendinitis, which is an issue that also kept him on the IL from April 8-26 and gave him trouble in the second half of last season. Counsell said the problem had worsened recently for Maton, who has a 6.08 ERA through 30 appearances for the North Siders.
“After the first time, we gave him some time off,” Counsell said. “I think we made some progress, but we’re kind of getting back to the same territory again. We really need Phil to get going here. And I think we’re getting closer, but we also feel like we’re taking some steps back with the health.
“So if we can maybe use this time and possibly the All-Star break to get his health as good as we can get him for the second half, I think that’s important, because we need a good version of Phil Maton.”
Taillon throws off mound
Counsell noted that Taillon simulated multiple innings off the mound in a bullpen session on Friday in Milwaukee. The manager initially projected the righty’s return to be after the All-Star break, but Counsell on Friday did not rule out the possibility that Taillon could make a shorter start before the season’s intermission.