Freddy Peralta’s Trade Value Just Got a Boost - Thanks to the Rays’ Recent Blockbusters
If the Milwaukee Brewers were on the fence about exploring a Freddy Peralta trade this offseason, the market might’ve just given them a pretty loud nudge. Two recent deals - both involving the Tampa Bay Rays - have shown just how much value contending teams are willing to part with for controllable, high-upside arms. And when you stack those trades up against what Peralta brings to the table, the takeaway is pretty clear: the Brewers could cash in big.
Let’s start with the first domino. The Rays sent right-hander Shane Baz to the Baltimore Orioles in a move that turned heads around the league.
Baz, a former top prospect with electric stuff but an injury history that includes Tommy John surgery, still netted Tampa Bay a serious package. Coming back from Baltimore were five pieces - two former first-rounders in outfielder Slater deBrun (Orioles’ No. 6 prospect) and catcher Caden Bodine (No. 10), breakout righty Michael Forret (No. 11), burner outfielder Austin Overn (No. 30), and a Competitive Balance Round A draft pick.
That’s a haul. And it’s not for a fully healthy, proven ace - it’s for a talented but still somewhat risky arm in Baz.
The Orioles are clearly betting on upside, but the Rays didn’t blink at the price tag. They got depth, tools, and upside across multiple positions.
Then came the second deal, this time a three-team swap involving the Rays, Astros, and Pirates. Tampa Bay moved infielder Brandon Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum, and lefty Mason Montgomery to Pittsburgh.
In return, the Rays landed two of Houston’s top prospects: outfielder Jacob Melton (No. 2 in the Astros’ system) and right-hander Anderson Brito (No. 7).
The Astros, meanwhile, picked up starter Mike Burrows from Pittsburgh.
It’s another aggressive swing for pitching, and another example of how much premium teams are placing on arms with potential - even ones like Burrows, who, like Baz, comes with injury questions.
Now, let’s bring this back to Milwaukee. Freddy Peralta isn’t a question mark.
He’s a proven top-of-the-rotation starter with swing-and-miss stuff, playoff experience, and multiple years of team control. He’s coming off a strong season and has shown the ability to carry a staff when healthy.
If Baz and Burrows can command packages like that, Peralta’s value might be even higher.
For a Brewers front office that’s already dealt away Corbin Burnes and Devin Williams in recent offseasons - and received solid but not franchise-shifting returns like Joey Ortiz, DL Hall, Caleb Durbin, and Nestor Cortes - the current market feels different. There’s a sense that the demand for controllable starting pitching is at a high, and the Rays have just set the going rate.
If Milwaukee decides to move Peralta, they won’t be settling. They’ll be setting the tone. And based on what we’ve seen, the return could reshape the roster in a way that echoes through the next several seasons.
The question now isn’t whether Peralta is worth a haul - it’s whether the Brewers are ready to pull the trigger.