The impression continues to be that the Mets will trade Holmes before next Monday, and given the need for pitching, the Cubs almost certainly will be involved in those trade talks. The Mets and Cubs already connected on one trade this season, exchanging David Peterson for Cole Mathis, and conventional wisdom would point to another trade happening before the deadline. The two teams have been frequent trade partners in recent seasons, and it would seem that New York is continuing their scouting of the Cubs' system. Jefferson Rojas is a clear Cubs' trade chip before the 2026 trade deadlineIf the Mets are focusing on the Smokies, the prospect who immediately comes to mind is Jefferson Rojas. In any trade for pitching, the Cubs almost certainly will have to include pitching in the deal.