MLB rumors: Insiders get brutally honest on Mets starter Freddy Peralta’s trade outlook

The MLB trade deadline isn’t until August 3, but rumors are running rampant around the league anyway. With the New York Mets in last place in the NL East, the club is one of several organizations that could be sellers at the deadline. Freddy Peralta’s name has been mentioned as a possible trade candidate for the club, but the latest buzz from insiders paints a not-so-pretty picture in terms of potential suitors.

In The Athletic’s latest trade deadline big board 1.0, insiders Tim Britton, Johnny Flores Jr., Chad Jennings, and Eno Sarris believe Peralta’s poor play this season is dwindling his value in trade talks. While the 30-year-old right-hander could still turn things around this season, he doesn’t appear to be a no-brainer trade target for contenders.

“It’s possible that there’s more name value here than actual quality on the field. The artist formerly known as Fastball Freddie is showing a four-year low in fastball velocity, and his overall stuff is down as measured by Stuff+, swinging-strike rate, and strikeout rate,” said The Athletic’s group of insiders.

“Right now, his peripherals suggest more of an average major-league starter than a guy that a contender needs to have in a playoff game. He’s gone on some pretty legendary streaks in the past when something clicks with a secondary, though.”

Through 16 starts so far this season, the nine-year veteran is on pace for one of the worst campaigns of his career. In 85.2 innings pitched, Peralta owns a 4.83 ERA and 1.389 WHIP, which are both good for the second-worst postings since he entered MLB in 2018. Freddy Peralta has also recorded 83 strikeouts in 2026.

The Mets acquired the two-time All-Star from the Milwaukee Brewers via trade, sending top prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat to Milwaukee in exchange for Peralta and Tobias Myers. At the time, it appeared to be a smart all-in move to improve the starting rotation, but Peralta’s play has been subpar, to say the least.

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