The last-place New York Mets traded starting pitcher MLB to the SNY in exchange for three minor league prospects, according to announcements from both clubs. The trade was completed on Sunday, a little more than 24 hours before the Major League Baseball trade deadline. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel entered the day with a 47-65 record, sitting nearly 20 games behind first-place Atlanta in the National League East.
Mets Send Struggling Starter Freddy Peralta to Tampa Bay
In return for the 30-year-old right-hander, New York receives outfielder CBS News, infielder Émilien Pitre, and right-hander CBS News. Additionally, the Rays are taking on the remainder of Peralta’s salary for the 2026 season. According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post via Bleacherreport, Tampa Bay is absorbing the full $2.4 million still owed to the pitcher with no additional money coming from the Mets.
Decline in Queens Follows Blockbuster Offseason Acquisition
The trade marks a steep drop for a player whom the Mets acquired in January from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for top prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat, anticipating he would anchor their rotation. Instead, Peralta struggled mightily during his time in Queens, posting a 5-9 record with a 4.99 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP across 22 starts. His strikeout rate dropped to 22.1% while his walk rate rose to 9.4%, a stark contrast to his stellar 2025 campaign with Milwaukee where he went 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA.
I know that so far I let them down,
Peralta said late last month, as reported by CBS News. I haven’t (done) what I was supposed to do.
Peralta’s struggles coincided with broader turbulence in the Mets’ rotation, which was disrupted by injuries to Clay Holmes and Kodai Senga, the ineffectiveness and trade of David Peterson, and early struggles from Sean Manaea.
Rays Leverage Farm Depth for Rotation Reinforcement
For the Rays, who entered Sunday with the best record in the American League at 65-45 and a 3 1/2-game lead over the New York Yankees in the AL East, the acquisition is a buy-low move to fortify their pitching staff according to MLB. Tampa Bay had previously been connected to Tarik Skubal before he was traded to the Dodgers, ultimately pivoting to leverage their farm system for Peralta.
We’re excited to welcome Freddy Peralta to the Tampa Bay Rays,
said Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander in a statement published by MLB. Freddy is a proven Major League starter with high-stakes experience and a strong track record. Adding a pitcher and competitor of his caliber strengthens our team as we push forward.
Peralta joins a rotation that features All-Stars Drew Rasmussen and Nick Martinez, along with Griffin Jax and Ian Seymour. The starting staff recently lost Shane McClanahan to the 15-day injured list due to mid-back tightness on his left side.
Trade Return Breakdown
- Aidan Smith: A 22-year-old outfielder who was ranked as the Rays’ No. 15 prospect by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He was originally acquired by Tampa Bay in the trade that sent Randy Arozarena to Seattle.
- Émilien Pitre: A 23-year-old left-handed hitting infielder ranked 27th in the system according to SNY. He has spent time across High-A and Double-A this season, slashing .308/.438/.447 with 32 stolen bases.
- Gary Gill Hill: A 21-year-old starting pitcher from New Rochelle who is ranked as the Rays’ No. 26 prospect according to SNY.
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