Since joining the Mets, David Stearns has followed a pretty clear game plan when it comes to starting pitchers. Instead of chasing big-name stars, he's opted for mid-tier options, banking on the team's pitching development to elevate these players. It's a strategy that's seen mixed results: successes like 2024's Sean Manaea and Luis Severino, and misses like 2025's Frankie Montas.
But heading into the offseason after 2025, the Mets' needs shifted. With a decent stable of back-end starters, they needed a reliable ace to lead the rotation. Last season's pitching woes were a major factor in their struggles, so finding a top-tier starter became a priority.
Enter Freddy Peralta, the former Brewers ace. Stearns, familiar with Peralta from his Milwaukee days, saw him as the perfect fit.
The Mets traded prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat for Peralta, a move that didn't come cheap but made sense given their prospect depth and need for a frontline starter. Peralta was quickly named the Opening Day starter, signaling his role as the rotation's leader.
Peralta's coming off a career-best season with a 2.70 ERA over 176.2 innings. However, fans should temper expectations slightly.
His ERA from 2022-2024 was 3.73, indicating last season might have been an outlier. Still, he's a solid option, even if he's not consistently going deep into games.
His career-high innings last year averaged just over 5 1/3 per start. So, while he might not be a Jacob deGrom-level ace, he's a dependable number two starter.
Peralta's strengths are clear: he racks up strikeouts-ranking ninth in K% last year-and stays healthy, placing him 15th in innings pitched over the past three seasons. This consistency is exactly what the Mets need, providing stability that was missing in 2025.
The big question now is whether Peralta will be a long-term fixture in New York. There's speculation about a contract extension before he hits free agency.
Peralta, represented by ACES, an agency known for securing long-term deals, has expressed interest in staying with the Mets. He’s looking for a 7-8 year deal, which might be longer than Stearns is comfortable with for a non-elite pitcher.
Recent deals by NL East rivals could influence negotiations.
Regardless of his contract situation, Peralta's presence in 2026 is crucial. He has the potential to be the most exciting Mets starter since deGrom's departure. If he performs to his usual standards and Nolan McLean continues to rise, the Mets could boast a formidable 1-2 punch that few teams can rival.