Steven Matz returning to Queens was never a realistic scenario for the Mets this offseason-but his latest move may have opened a door for them anyway.
With Matz heading to the Tampa Bay Rays, the club needed to make room on the roster. The casualty?
Outfielder Tristan Peters, a 25-year-old left-handed bat who was designated for assignment. And while Peters isn’t a household name-yet-he might just be the kind of under-the-radar pickup that could quietly boost the Mets’ outfield depth.
Let’s start with what Peters brings to the table. His MLB debut was brief and, frankly, forgettable: 0-for-12 with seven strikeouts.
But that small sample doesn’t tell the full story. In Triple-A, Peters posted a solid .266/.355/.429 slash line, along with 15 home runs and 76 RBIs.
That’s respectable production, especially when you factor in his defensive versatility-he’s logged time at all three outfield spots. That kind of flexibility always has value, particularly for a team like the Mets that’s still shaping its roster for 2026.
There’s also a familiar thread here. Peters was originally drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2021-when David Stearns, now the Mets’ president of baseball operations, was running the show in Milwaukee. Though Peters didn’t spend long with the Brewers-Stearns flipped him to the Giants in 2022 for reliever Trevor Rosenthal-it’s clear there’s some level of familiarity and potential interest from the Mets’ front office.
Rosenthal, for what it’s worth, never made an impact in Milwaukee. He threw just two innings in three Triple-A games after the trade.
That deal didn’t exactly pan out, but it doesn’t mean Stearns has given up on Peters’ potential. If anything, it might make him more inclined to take another shot on a player he once saw enough in to draft.
So where could Peters fit in the Mets’ current picture?
If claimed off waivers, he’d need to be added to the 40-man roster. That could mean pushing out someone like Jared Young, or even Ji Hwan Bae-both of whom have struggled to make a consistent impact at the big-league level. Peters, with his age, defensive value, and left-handed bat, could be a more appealing long-term piece.
Now, let’s be clear: Peters isn’t the big outfield move Mets fans are waiting for. He’s not a centerpiece.
But that doesn’t mean he’s irrelevant. The Mets still need a major addition to their outfield, but there’s room on the margins for smart, low-risk pickups like this.
Peters has more Triple-A experience than some of the Mets’ other outfield prospects-Carson Benge and Nick Morabito, for example-and could be a plug-and-play option in left or center, especially early in the season while the roster settles.
With left field currently wide open, a player like Peters could offer some early coverage and depth, even if he ultimately ends up back in Triple-A. And if Stearns’ track record is any indication, he’s not afraid to circle back to former Brewers, even in smaller roles-just look at Pablo Reyes.
So, does Stearns take another swing on a familiar face? If Peters clears waivers and the Mets are looking to bolster their outfield depth without breaking the bank, this could be a savvy move. It won’t make headlines, but it might just make a difference.