The Tampa Bay Rays have jumped into the trade deadline with a move aimed straight at their rotation, landing veteran right-hander Freddy Peralta from the New York Mets, according to The Athletic’s Will Sammon.
Peralta’s stop in New York never really got going. After arriving from the Milwaukee Brewers in a major offseason deal, he has struggled badly this season, and the Mets - now out of playoff contention - decided to move him on. Tampa Bay, sitting atop the AL, is betting that a change of scenery can help him find the version of himself that made him such a valuable arm in Milwaukee.
The Rays are adding Peralta with the postseason in mind. Their rotation has already been the backbone of the club, and this deal gives them another experienced starter to work with as they try to sharpen the staff for the stretch run.
In return, the Mets picked up three prospects from Tampa Bay: outfielder Aidan Smith, right-hander Gary Gill Hill and infielder Emilien Pitre. All three rank among the Rays’ top 30 prospects on MLB.com.
Peralta’s 2026 numbers tell the story of a rough year. His 4.99 ERA sits among the worst marks for qualified starting pitchers, and it’s his highest since 2019, when he was still mostly working out of the bullpen for Milwaukee. That’s a sharp drop from last season, when he posted a career-best 2.70 ERA across 33 starts and extended a streak of three straight years with at least 30 starts.
Now the Rays are taking the gamble that the arm that held up so well in Milwaukee can still show up when it matters most.
Peralta is also headed for free agency after the season, which makes him one of the more appealing rental pitchers on the market. He is finishing a five-year, $15.5 million contract originally signed with the Brewers, including an $8 million club option this season.
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