Cubs Land 2 Starters in Deadline Push, Adding Gausman, Holmes and Taylor

Q: Did the Mets just steal a future MLB superstar in Jefferson Rojas for an injured pitcher and a rental outfielder?

Not necessarily — but the Mets may have extracted a very strong return. Rojas is a legitimate prospect, not a throw-in. He is 21, already at Double-A, ranked around No. 63-97 overall depending on the outlet, and has produced a .270/.339/.461 line with 15 homers and 17 steals. He has also played shortstop, second and third, which adds value. The recent reporting that he had become the Cubs’ No. 1 or No. 2 prospect makes this a meaningful acquisition for New York. That said, calling him a future superstar is premature. Rojas’ track record is promising but not overwhelming. He struggled badly in his first taste of Double-A last year and had a rough stretch again this season before heating up. Evaluators like the athleticism, bat speed and defensive versatility, but he is still a projection play, not a finished product. Prospects in this tier become good major leaguers far more often than true stars. The Mets also did not get him for nothing. Holmes, even injured, had been excellent: a 2.39 ERA and 3.21 FIP in nine starts, with a realistic path to returning this season. A contender could view him as a playoff arm if healthy. Taylor, while a rental, had become a useful right-handed bat and solid defensive outfielder. So the smarter read is that the Mets made a savvy upside bet and may have sold high on imperfect assets. They did not clearly “steal” a superstar, but they may have landed one of the better prospect returns available at this deadline.

3 articles · Updated · MLB.com · Aug 4

Chicago added Kevin Gausman from Toronto and finalized its Clay Holmes-Tyrone Taylor deal with the Mets, making two veteran starters the centerpiece of its deadline overhaul.
Jed Hoyer said the moves were meant to reward a rotation battered by injuries but still tied for third in MLB with a 3.47 ERA in July.
Holmes is still on the 60-day injured list after a fractured right fibula, though he threw 73 pitches in a High-A rehab start Sunday and is expected to join the rotation once activated.
Gausman could debut as soon as Thursday against his former Blue Jays, while Taylor deepens the bench and Ryan Zeferjahn and Braxton Garrett add bullpen and rotation depth.
Chicago also explored a deal for Tarik Skubal before he went to the Dodgers, underscoring the Cubs' focus on building a staff capable of challenging the defending champions in October.