Cubs acquire pitchers Clay Holmes, Ryan Zeferjahn and outfielder Tyrone Taylor in deadline trades
Chicago sent top prospects Jefferson Rojas, Moisés Ballesteros and Mason McGwire to the Mets and Angels in exchange for right-hander Clay Holmes, right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn and outfielder Tyrone Taylor, adding depth to the rotation, bullpen and bench.
Chicago completed two deadline deals to bolster its pitching staff and add a versatile fourth outfielder. The club received right-handed starter Clay Holmes and outfielder Tyrone Taylor from New York in exchange for infielder Jefferson Rojas. Holmes, who is returning from a broken fibula, has posted a 55 percent ground-ball rate this season and is projected as a potential No. 2 starter. Taylor is expected to serve as a backup across all three outfield positions.
In a separate transaction, the Cubs traded catcher/designated hitter Moisés Ballesteros and right-hander Mason McGwire to Los Angeles for right-handed reliever Ryan Zeferjahn. Zeferjahn, a 22-year-old with four years of team control remaining after 2026, adds depth to the bullpen.
The Mets acquire Rojas, the No. 62 prospect in the minors, who is hitting .270 with 15 home runs at Double-A and is projected as a power-capable third-baseman. The Angels receive Ballesteros, a former top-100 prospect, and McGwire, both of whom could contribute at the major-league level.
These moves reflect Chicago’s strategy of trading high-ranking prospects for immediate major-league help as the season approaches its final stretch.