Cubs Claim Left-Handed Pitcher Off Waivers
The Chicago Cubs claimed the left-hander off the Cardinals' waiver wire Sunday, optioning him to Triple-A Iowa.
No 40-man roster move was required since the Cubs entered the day with 39 players after right-hander Yacksel Rios was designated for assignment to clear room for closer Daniel Palencia, who was activated from the 15-day injured list.
Peralta was designated for assignment by the Colorado Rockies on April 21, claimed by the Cardinals on April 27, DFA'd again by St. Louis on May 1 without appearing in a single game or pitching a single inning in their system, and is now with his fifth organization since 2024 and his third in roughly thirteen days.
The Organizational Journey
Peralta, 25, is the younger brother of Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta and was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent in 2018.
He was traded to Colorado at the 2024 deadline in the deal that sent Jalen Beeks to Pittsburgh, made his MLB debut with the Rockies that same year, and posted a genuinely impressive 0.73 ERA across 12.1 innings with 14 strikeouts.
The 2025 version was drastically different.
#Cubs today claimed LHP Luis Peralta off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals and optioned him to Triple-A Iowa.
— Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) May 3, 2026
He posted a 9.47 ERA across 19 innings with more walks than strikeouts, allowed six home runs, and was sent back to the minors before the Rockies eventually gave up entirely and designated him for assignment in late April.
His 2026 Triple-A numbers with Colorado's Albuquerque affiliate were alarming even in context: a 17.18 ERA across 7.1 innings, 13 walks, and 14 strikeouts in that small sample.
The walks have always been the issue, and the problem has worsened this season rather than improved.
His fastball usage has also shifted, dropping from over 70 percent in previous seasons to around 59 percent this year, a sign someone is tinkering with his approach without yet finding an answer.
Why the Cubs Made the Claim
Chicago's bullpen has been ravaged by injuries all season.
Six relievers are currently on the injured list, including left-handers Caleb Thielbar and Riley Martin, which has left the Cubs' southpaw depth behind Hoby Milner and Ryan Rolison thin enough to justify claiming essentially anyone who can throw from the left side.
The Cubs are also 15-3 in their last 18 games and lead the NL Central.
Freddy Peralta’s brother Luis was just DFA’d by the Rockies. Should the Mets take a flyer on the hard throwing lefty? pic.twitter.com/IEAnBwqnMC
— Master Flip 🇩🇴 (@Masterflip_) April 21, 2026
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images