Freddy Peralta wants to be a New York Met. He’s been open about loving his new team and believing that even if it’s not this year, the team has a system in place that can help him become a World Series champion.
And even if Peralta and the Mets come together for a longer-term contract this offseason when he’s a free agent, that doesn’t mean he has to end the year in Queens.
The Mets have continued to stay at the bottom of the NL East standings a third into the season, and with the trade deadline approaching in the next few months, Peralta is one expiring contract that could gain the Mets a nice prospect or two if they feel like they’re truly out of it.
Here are three teams that could trade for Peralta before the deadline.
Chicago Cubs
Will the Cubs be competitive enough to trade for Peralta at this point? If you asked this question two weeks ago, then the Cubs would have been the perfect answer to go after Peralta.
Chicago was doing well offensively, but needed help with their injured rotation. The Cubs now, though, have double-digit losses in a row and might be a seller themselves at the deadline.
If the Cubs can turn it around or stop the bleeding, Peralta would make a lot of sense.
Milwaukee Brewers
While it would be hilarious if this happened, I could see it happening. Peralta knows the Brewers organization, was their ace last year, and they reached the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
What if the Brewers, who have the best farm system in baseball, flip a prospect over a prospect to the Mets to have Peralta be a mercenary for them going into the playoffs, and then move on once again when he becomes a free agent?
Tampa Bay Rays
Like the Brewers, the Rays have an endless prospect pool. Unlike the Brewers, though, Tampa Bay might actually extend Peralta depending on how they view him long-term. For the short term, though, Peralta fits perfectly for a Rays team that is leading the American League right now and would make them a legitimate title contender if their rotation holds up.