The New York Mets just made one of the boldest moves of the offseason, acquiring All-Star right-hander Freddy Peralta from the Milwaukee Brewers in a deal that signals they're not just retooling-they’re going for it.
In exchange for Peralta, Milwaukee is getting a serious haul: top shortstop prospect Jett Williams and right-handed pitching prospect Brandon Sproat. That’s a heavy price, especially for a pitcher with just one guaranteed year left on his deal.
But it tells you everything about where the Mets are headed. After a slow start to the winter, New York has flipped the switch-adding Peralta, trading for outfielder Luis Robert Jr., and signing Bo Bichette.
That’s not just building depth; that’s reshaping the roster with stars.
As for the Dodgers? Despite recent buzz linking them to Peralta, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman made it pretty clear during Kyle Tucker’s introductory press conference that LA wasn’t pushing hard for another starter.
And now we know why. Hours after Friedman downplayed the team’s interest in the starting pitcher market, Peralta was off the board-headed not to Los Angeles, but to Queens.
The Dodgers’ decision not to pursue Peralta more aggressively likely has everything to do with the situation in Detroit. The Tigers haven’t made Tarik Skubal available-yet-but every time a frontline starter changes teams, it feels like a reminder that Skubal could be the ultimate prize if Detroit decides to move him. And if that happens, no one is better positioned to make a move than the Dodgers.
LA has the prospect capital, the financial flexibility, and the win-now urgency to land a true ace. But they’re not going to burn assets on a short-term play unless it’s the right fit.
Peralta is a high-end arm, no doubt, but he’s not Skubal. And with the Dodgers already having enough arms to construct a full rotation-and even the depth to run a six-man crew if needed-there was no reason to overextend.
Milwaukee, for their part, didn’t seem overly concerned about sending Peralta to another National League contender. That might come as a surprise, especially after the Brewers were bounced from the NLCS by the Dodgers last fall. But if they were worried about strengthening a rival, they wouldn’t have sent Peralta to the Mets-a team with postseason ambitions of their own.
For the Mets, this is a swing worth taking. Peralta brings strikeout stuff, postseason experience, and front-line potential. And with the additions they’ve made this offseason, New York is signaling they’re not content to watch the NL playoff picture from the outside.
Back in LA, the Dodgers are playing the long game. They could’ve topped the Mets’ offer if they wanted to, but this isn’t about winning January.
It’s about being ready in July-when the trade deadline rolls around and the Tigers might finally put Skubal on the table. If that happens, expect Friedman and the Dodgers to be front and center.
For now, the Mets get their man. The Brewers add two top-tier prospects.
And the Dodgers? They wait-carefully, patiently, and with purpose.
Because if Skubal does become available, they’ll be ready to make their move.