The Chicago Cubs have been one of baseball's hottest teams this season, and they're shaping up to be serious postseason contenders. But there's one glaring weakness that's haunted them for years: starting pitching depth.

Injuries have taken a toll on the Cubs' rotation. Justin Steele and Matthew Boyd have missed significant time, and top prospect Cade Horton is out for the entire 2026 season. That's why it's no surprise that the Cubs are already working the trade lines.

According to Bruce Levin of 670 The Score, the Cubs have had discussions with the New York Mets about right-hander Freddy Peralta. "According to industry sources, the Cubs are one of the teams the Mets have talked to about acquiring RHP Freddy Peralta," Levin reports.

This move would be a genius play by Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and manager Craig Counsell. Peralta has been outstanding this season, posting a 3.12 ERA with 43 strikeouts over eight starts. After a rocky Opening Day where he allowed four runs, he's been rock solid, never giving up more than three runs in any outing since. Since his fourth start, he's consistently pitched at least five innings with impressive command.

The Cubs' offense is already potent, and their defense is elite. The missing piece is a reliable arm in the rotation. Adding Peralta would give them a proven starter who can eat innings and deliver quality starts down the stretch.

The Mets are struggling and could become sellers at the trade deadline. Peralta is a rental, which makes him an attractive target for a Cubs team that's all-in on winning now. While names like Sandy Alcantara have been floated in recent years, landing Peralta would be a huge win for Chicago.

If the Cubs can pull this trade off, they'll have the pitching depth to make a serious World Series run. For a team that's already one of the best in baseball, this could be the move that puts them over the top.