The Mets have already lived through the downside of a Freddy Peralta-style move, and that history is hanging over their offseason plans. Peralta was supposed to help. Instead, he turned into a costly lesson for New York, and then went on to thrive with the Tampa Bay Rays after the deadline deal.
That’s why the question now is simple: should the Mets chase another starter in that same mold, or should they steer clear?
There’s a real reason for caution. Landing another one-year rental arm is going to be expensive, and the market doesn’t offer much relief.
Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins and Drew Rasmussen of the Tampa Bay Rays are both names the Mets could target, but neither would come cheap. A deal for either pitcher would likely require at least two top 10 prospects, just as the Peralta trade did.
New York already paid a heavy price once, sending top prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat for less than a year of Peralta. He posted a 4.99 ERA with the Mets, and while Williams and Sproat didn’t turn in strong years in the Brewers’ system, both still carry bright futures. That’s the kind of gamble that makes another rental trade hard to swallow.
Still, there’s also a strong argument for why the Mets shouldn’t let that experience scare them off completely. If they sign Tarik Skubal and still want another starter, a cheaper trade target may be the most realistic route. Skubal is expected to land the richest contract for a starting pitcher in MLB history, so pairing him with another top-end free agent would be a major financial stretch.
The Mets may need two starters this offseason no matter what happens with Skubal. And with the uncertainty around a lockout and the possibility of a salary cap, the financial picture could get even tighter.
If a cap is put in place, signing Skubal and another premium starter would be out of reach. Even without one, the Mets will probably want to stay below certain luxury tax penalties in 2027.
So while the Peralta trade is a warning sign, it may not be enough to keep New York from making a similar move again. If the Mets want to upgrade the rotation, they may have to take that risk anyway.
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Mets Can Fix Three Roster Problems Without Another Big Splash
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There is also the ripple effect that comes with any first-base move, because the Mets already have prospects for third base and could be looking at a different alignment if the roster breaks the right way. Harpers piece even raises the possibility of Bo Bichette moving across the diamond to third, though that remains speculative. For now, the bigger takeaway is simple: New York may finally have a path to solving an infield issue that has lingered for a while, even if the exact shape of that fix is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Daniel Duarte Just Forced His Way Into The Mets Bullpen Conversation
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Even with a hamstring injury late in the year, Duarte put together career-best numbers during his time in New York and made a convincing case that he belongs in the conversation for 2027. For a bullpen that will always be looking for reliable arms, his comeback season gave the Mets something they did not have before: a legitimate internal option worth keeping in mind. [Read more 🡒]