Freddy Peralta’s name is heating up on the trade market-and with good reason. The 29-year-old right-hander has long been one of the most underrated arms in the game, and now, with the St. Louis Cardinals setting a precedent by flipping Sonny Gray for a top pitching prospect, the Brewers might be sitting on one of the most valuable chips available this winter.
Let’s be clear: if the Cardinals can land a premium return for one year of a 36-year-old Gray at $20 million, Milwaukee has every reason to expect a serious haul for one year of Peralta-who’s younger, playoff-tested, and still very much in his prime. That’s not wishful thinking. That’s market logic.
And while the Boston Red Sox continue to loom as one of the most logical landing spots-thanks to a deep farm system and a clear need for frontline pitching-they’re far from the only team that would come calling. Peralta’s combination of swing-and-miss stuff, postseason experience, and cost control makes him an ideal fit for any contender looking to solidify the top of its rotation.
Former GM Jim Bowden recently laid out several hypothetical trade packages that could pry Peralta out of Milwaukee. Some of the proposals might raise eyebrows, but one theme runs through them all: if the Brewers are going to move their ace, they have to come away with young, controllable arms in return.
Here’s a look at the deals Bowden put on the table:
- Atlanta Braves: RHP JR Ritchie and SS Alex Lodise
- Boston Red Sox: LHP Payton Tolle and RHP Anthony Eyanson
- New York Mets: RHP Brandon Sproat and INF/OF Luisangel Acuña
- New York Yankees: RHP Will Warren and SS Jose Caballero
- San Francisco Giants: RHP Landen Roupp and 2B/SS Jhonny Level
Each of these packages centers around arms that are either MLB-ready or knocking on the door-and that’s exactly what Milwaukee needs. This isn’t about a full rebuild. It’s about reloading while staying competitive in a division that’s still wide open.
Take Payton Tolle, for example. The big lefty has a fastball that jumps out of the hand and could develop into a legitimate mid-rotation arm in short order.
Brandon Sproat, in the Mets proposal, brings a live arm and a high ceiling. And if the Brewers want someone who’s already logged time in the majors, Will Warren and Landen Roupp both fit that mold.
They're not just prospects-they’re potential contributors in 2026 and beyond.
The Mets deal, which includes Sproat and Luisangel Acuña, might be the most intriguing. Acuña brings positional versatility and a strong contact bat that could fit right into Milwaukee’s long-term plans. It’s the kind of package that offers both upside and balance.
Of course, any deal involving Peralta needs to check a few boxes. The Brewers aren’t just looking for bodies-they’re looking for arms that can anchor the next wave of their rotation.
We’ve seen this before. When Milwaukee traded Corbin Burnes to the Orioles a few years ago, they brought back DL Hall and top prospect Joey Ortiz.
Hall hasn’t quite broken out yet, but the blueprint is there: move a top-tier arm for multiple controllable pieces with upside.
If GM Matt Arnold decides to pull the trigger on a Peralta trade this offseason, the mission is simple-bring in young, affordable pitching that can keep the window of contention open. Peralta has been a rock in the Brewers’ rotation, but if the return sets the team up for sustained success, it’s a move worth making.
Milwaukee has walked this tightrope before. They know how to balance the now and the next. With the right deal, they can do it again.