​The New York Mets have traded starting pitcher Clay Holmes and outfielder Tyrone Taylor to the Chicago Cubs, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. New York will receive infielder Jefferson Rojas. Holmes has been on the 60-day IL since May 15 due to a fractured right fibula. Players on the IL are allowed to be traded, but must pass a physical with their new team for the trade to become official. The pitcher has been working his way back from his injury and recently had a rehab start with New York’s Single-A affiliate in St. Lucie. It was his second rehab start, and he was permitted to throw 59 pitches. According to MLB.com, Holmes is expected to throw around 75 pitches in his next start as he continues to ramp up. Holmes is currently in the second year of a three-year deal he signed ahead of the 2025 season. The pitcher can opt out after this season, but it would force him to forgo his $12 million salary for 2027. Before getting hurt, Holmes had made nine starts. He was pitching well, tallying a 2.39 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 55 2/3 innings of work. Holmes has been in the league since 2018. He came up with the Pittsburgh Pirates, pitching 11 games in 2018. Most of his career has come out of the bullpen. When Holmes became a free agent ahead of the 2025 season, he was adamant that he wanted to sign with a team that would allow him to be a starter. He landed with the Mets and made 33 appearances last season, with 31 starts. Holmes had a 12-8 record with a 3.53 ERA over the course of the season.New York trading Holmes is a result of how much the franchise has underperformed this season. The Mets were expected to be a contender for the division title with hopes of a deep playoff run, but instead find themselves in last place in the NL East ahead of the trade deadline. Taylor has played in 67 games this season for New York and is slashing .241/.290/.503 with 10 home runs and 28 RBI. Rojas, 21, has been with Chicago’s Double-A affiliate all year. He has played in 91 games and is hitting .270 with 15 home runs and 57 RBI.