MLB Executive Links AL East Team As ‘Perfect Fit’ for Freddy Peralta Trade

The New York Mets aren't ready to trade ace Freddy Peralta just yet. But as we steam towards the trade deadline in less than two months, they'll start to take the trade talks a lot more seriously. Peralta is a free agent after the season, and after giving up a couple of fine prospects to acquire him from Milwaukee, the Mets won't want to lose him for nothing.

One MLB executive told insider Robert Murray that Peralta will have more interest on the trade market than two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, due to a prorated salary that's $24M cheaper this season. He then went on to name the Tampa Bay Rays as the ideal fit for the Mets for a Peralta trade, due to their prevalence of Top 100 prospects in baseball. He expects New York to get at least two such prospects for the 30-year-old right-hander.

I think a team like the Rays are a perfect fit with multiple guys in the 50-100 range.

Tampa currently holds a slim half-game lead atop the AL East on the NY Yankees (who will have to survive the next couple of months without All-World outfielder Aaron Judge).

The exec says that while the Rays' No. 1 prospect Theo Gillen wouldn't be available, the Mets could expect two of a group of other Tampa top tier prospects, including RHP Brody Hopkins (#2 Rays prospect per MLB Pipeline), catcher Nathan Flewelling (#3), catcher Caden Bodine (#4 per Baseball America), and/or #8 prospect 1B/OF Taitn Gray.

Murray adds that the first-place Milwaukee Brewers, Peralta's long-time team, should also be looking at potentially bringing back Peralta as a trade deadline addition, as they have another chance this season to make some noise in the playoffs.

"If there’s ever a time for Milwaukee to be aggressive at the deadline, it’s now, and the organizational love for Peralta is deep," writes Murray.