The Mets are heading toward the trade deadline with a clear path in front of them: move the players on expiring deals, and Freddy Peralta looks like one of the names that fits that bill.
Peralta’s season in Queens hasn’t matched the expectation. Before the All-Star break, he had a 4.66 ERA and a career-high 1.438 WHIP, and there hasn’t been any real sign of progress toward a contract extension. As The Athletic’s Jim Bowden put it Monday, “Peralta has had a disappointing season for the Mets, posting a 4.66 ERA with a career-high 1.438 WHIP before the All-Star break,” and “He’s a free agent at the end of the season, and there has been no momentum toward negotiating a contract extension.”
Bowden’s answer is a simple one-for-one deal with the Padres: Peralta to San Diego for left-hander Kash Mayfield, the club’s No. 4 prospect on MLB Pipeline.
It’s the kind of return that would give New York something to show for a tough season from a pitcher who hasn’t delivered. Bowden described Mayfield as “the Padres’ first-round pick in 2024,” adding, “He’s reached High A and is missing bats at a high rate. He recently participated in the Futures Game.”
Mayfield has put together a 3.20 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 50.2 innings for High-A Fort Wayne.
The Mets’ original trade with the Milwaukee Brewers for Peralta made sense when it happened, but the results haven’t lined up the way New York hoped. Even if Peralta had turned in another strong season, the club would still be facing this same decision now. At this point, cutting losses is the move.
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With the Red Sox in the playoff race and their pitching staff already looking strong, the trade chatter around San Diego has taken on an oddly familiar shape. Bogaerts remains tied to a hefty contract, which is part of why any move involving him would be complicated, but the idea of the Padres reshuffling their roster has naturally set off speculation about what kind of return they might seek if they decide to listen.
For Boston, the attraction is obvious enough even without a formal offer on the table. A right-handed bat would fit a need, and Mason Millers reputation as a dominant late-inning arm only adds to the appeal of any larger conversation. Nothing has been announced, but the possibility of a deadline deal that would force the Red Sox to weigh present needs against long-term cost is the kind of idea that tends to linger until the market finally settles. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Just Made A Telling Move Before A Defining Braves Series
After a lopsided 19-2 win over the Royals, the Padres are still sitting at 49-50, which is the kind of record that makes every roster decision feel a little louder than usual. San Diego responded by shuffling its pitching staff again, bringing back Randy Vsquez and Wandy Peralta as it tries to steady things heading into a stretch that could say a lot about where this season is going.
The next test comes against Atlanta, and the club has already lined up its starters for that series, a sign the Padres are treating it like more than just another midseason set. Even with the recent surge of offense, there is still a sense around the team that the margin for error remains thin, which is why these moves and this matchup carry so much weight right now. [Read more 🡒]