The Brewers were in the pitching market right up to the deadline, and one of the names they circled was a familiar one: Freddy Peralta.
According to Jim Bowden of The Athletic, Milwaukee explored a deal for Peralta before he was ultimately moved from the New York Mets to the Tampa Bay Rays. Bowden said, “I know they tried to get Freddy Peralta.
The Brewers tried to get Freddy Peralta, but the Rays swooped in and paid more than they were willing to, @JimBowdenGM reports. pic.twitter.com/x4K0TjeL2f
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) August 4, 2026
They felt like they could fix him but Tampa came in and paid more than what they were willing to do,” Bowden said. “I'm not sure David Stearns wanted to return him to the Brewers at 25 cents on the dollar.”
Peralta had already been on the move once this season. Before the year, the Mets landed him in a trade with Milwaukee as they tried to strengthen their playoff outlook. That plan unraveled as New York slid badly, and with Peralta headed for free agency after the season, the Mets decided to move him again.
For the Brewers, the appeal was obvious. They know exactly what Peralta brings when he’s right. But there was a limit to how much they wanted to pay for what would have been a rental, especially with Peralta carrying a 4.99 ERA in 2026.
Even with that rough stretch, Peralta still has the résumé that keeps teams interested: he’s a two-time All-Star and still has plenty of upside. Milwaukee could circle back when he reaches free agency, but for now he’s with the Rays and working to help them in their playoff push.
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Brewers Pitching Depth Just Got Squeezed Even Tighter
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Pannone now has the right to elect free agency, while Rodriguez has to decide whether to accept the assignment and remain in the organization. For a Brewers team that leans hard on depth and flexibility, moves like this are part of the business, but they also leave a few more questions about who fits where once the dust settles. [Read more 🡒]