The New York Mets aren’t tiptoeing into 2026 - they’re kicking the door down. With a bold trade for Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers, David Stearns made it clear: the window isn’t opening someday down the line.
It’s open now. And the rest of the NL East just got a fresh reason to check their rearview mirrors.
Let’s break it down.
The Mets Go All-In
In sending top prospect Jett Williams and high-upside arm Brandon Sproat to Milwaukee, the Mets didn’t just make a trade - they made a statement. This is a win-now move, plain and simple.
Yes, parting with Williams, who’s cracked top-50 prospect lists, and Sproat, a flamethrower with scouts buzzing, stings. But prospects are promises.
Freddy Peralta is proven.
And what the Mets are getting isn’t just a solid rotation piece. They’re getting a legitimate frontline starter.
Peralta is coming off a 17-6 season with a 2.70 ERA, finishing fifth in the Cy Young voting. He led the National League in wins and struck out 204 batters over 176.2 innings.
That’s three straight seasons with 200+ strikeouts - a level of consistency that’s becoming increasingly rare in today’s game.
This isn’t about depth. This is about dominance.
Peralta Already Making His Presence Felt
Peralta didn’t waste any time making an impression. On Saturday, he was already on the mound in Port St.
Lucie throwing live batting practice. He looked locked in - sharp, focused, and every bit the ace New York is counting on him to be.
Standing alongside Clay Holmes and Jonathan Santucci, Peralta looked like a man who knows exactly what’s expected of him - and welcomes it.
He told reporters the session went “really well,” and by all accounts, he looked the part. This is a guy entering a contract year, skipping the World Baseball Classic with the Dominican Republic to prioritize his Mets debut.
That’s not just professionalism - that’s urgency. That’s leadership.
The Cost of Contention
Let’s not sugarcoat it - the price was steep. Williams has the kind of spark and bat-to-ball skills that remind people of Jose Altuve.
Sproat, despite a 4.79 ERA last season, has the kind of raw stuff that makes pitching coaches dream big. But the Mets didn’t trade away potential for the sake of flash.
They did it because they believe Peralta can help them win right now.
And they didn’t stop there.
Tobias Myers might not be the headliner, but he’s no throw-in. The right-hander quietly became a rock in Milwaukee’s rotation last year, posting a 3.15 ERA over nearly 190 innings.
He’s the kind of flexible arm - starter, long relief, innings-eater - that championship teams lean on during the dog days of summer. Depth like this doesn’t usually come cheap, and it rarely lasts.
The Mets just locked it in early.
The $140 Million Question
Of course, there’s a looming subplot here: Freddy Peralta’s contract. He’s currently on an $8 million team option - a flat-out bargain for a pitcher of his caliber. That deal expires after this season, and unless something changes, he’s headed for free agency in November.
So what’s the plan?
Steve Cohen has shown he’s not afraid to spend, but Stearns has played it cautious when it comes to long-term deals for pitchers. Still, this isn’t a move you make unless you think you can go the distance. And if Peralta keeps taking the ball every fifth day - and keeps dominating - it’s hard to imagine the Mets letting him walk.
Can He Handle New York?
Milwaukee is a great baseball town, but New York is a different kind of animal. The lights are brighter.
The expectations are heavier. The scrutiny never sleeps.
Peralta has the stuff to thrive here - that much is clear. But New York doesn’t just want performance.
It demands presence. Confidence.
A little swagger under pressure. And based on his first outing in camp, Peralta’s not blinking.
He’s not easing into the moment. He’s attacking it.
This trade didn’t just reshape the Mets’ rotation - it reshaped the timeline. The future isn’t five years away.
It’s this season. And with Freddy Peralta leading the charge, the Mets just made themselves a whole lot more dangerous.