Key keywords: Freddy Peralta, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, 2024 MLB Trade Deadline, MLB trade rumors, starting pitching market, Cubs postseason push, Mets roster rebuild Citing anonymous league sources familiar with the discussions, MLB Network insider Jon Morosi reported on Tuesday that the Chicago Cubs have officially contacted the New York Mets to inquire about the availability of right-handed starting pitcher Freddy Peralta, as the Cubs ramp up efforts to reinforce their starting rotation ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline. Currently sitting second in the National League Central, just 1.5 games behind the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers, the Cubs have identified starting pitching as their top priority ahead of the deadline. While the team’s offense has ranked among the top 10 in the NL in runs scored and OPS through the first half of the season, their starting rotation has posted a combined 4.52 ERA, ranking 18th league-wide, with consistent struggles from back-end starters and multiple stints on the injured list for key arms including Justin Steele and Jameson Taillon. Adding a reliable, playoff-tested starter like Peralta would immediately upgrade the Cubs’ chances of not only winning the NL Central but also making a deep run in the 2024 postseason. Peralta, 28, was acquired by the Mets from the Brewers in an offseason trade, and has posted a 3.21 ERA with 118 strikeouts in 103.2 innings pitched across 19 starts this season. He is owed roughly $2.3 million for the remainder of the 2024 season, and has a $15 million club option for 2025 with no buyout, making him an extremely affordable, controllable asset for teams looking for both short-term and medium-term rotation help. For the Mets, who currently sit 12 games under .500 and 10 games out of the NL Wild Card race, the franchise has fully embraced seller status ahead of the deadline, already moving reliever Jake Diekman to the Texas Rangers earlier this week for a low-level minor league prospect. Team president David Stearns has publicly stated that the team is open to trading any player who is not part of their long-term core, in an effort to accumulate young, controllable talent to accelerate their rebuild. Discussions between the two sides are still in the early stages, according to sources, with the Mets asking for at least two top-20 Cubs prospects in exchange for Peralta, while the Cubs are pushing to include a major league-ready reliever in the deal to lower the prospect cost. League analysts note that a deal is likely to come together in the final 72 hours before the deadline, as both teams weigh their respective priorities against other offers for Peralta from competing suitors including the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves.