The Padres know exactly what they need, and that’s another starter. Too many innings this season have been handed to the bullpen because the rotation has been battered by injuries.
That’s why Freddy Peralta is on their radar. It’s also why San Diego has to be careful not to turn a need into a mistake.
Will Sammon of The Athletic reported that both the Padres and Diamondbacks have been scouting the Mets right-hander. Peralta is expected to move before the deadline, and in a market short on starting pitching, plenty of clubs are involved. Arizona’s presence is what changes the tone for San Diego.
Once an NL West rival steps in, the price can jump fast. A sensible pursuit can become a bidding war in a hurry, and that’s the trap the Padres need to avoid.
Peralta’s numbers this season don’t scream frontline ace. He is 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA over 113 2/3 innings.
His strikeout rate has slipped, and there are questions about his fastball, arm angle and secondary pitches. He has the reputation of a top-of-the-rotation arm, but he hasn’t pitched like one this year.
What San Diego would be buying is the chance that he gets back to that level, not proof that he already has. That kind of bet can make sense if the price is right.
It’s easier to see the appeal when you remember what he did last season: a 2.70 ERA and 204 strikeouts. Maybe Ruben Niebla can find something to unlock.
Maybe getting out of a rough Mets season helps him reset.
But possibilities are not guarantees, and the Mets should not be paid like they are.
The market is heating up, too. Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported that the Mets scratched Peralta from Friday night’s scheduled start because interest from contenders was growing.
That suggests a deal could be close. It does not mean the Padres should rush into an inflated offer.
There’s another detail that matters here: Peralta is an impending free agent. San Diego would be giving up value for roughly two months of a pitcher with an ERA near 5.00. That doesn’t sound like the kind of return that should cost one of the Padres’ premium prospects, no matter how many scouts Arizona sends.
If the Diamondbacks want to chase him and pay more, that’s their business. If Peralta lands in Arizona and finds his old form there, it would sting. But the Padres can’t let that possibility push them into a trade deadline disaster.
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Ethan Salas Promotion Could Be Hinting At A Bigger Padres Move
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