Freddy Peralta Mets trade talk grows after likely final start
Freddy Peralta said he has “let them down” as the Mets near the Aug. 3 deadline with his Queens stint likely ending.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Freddy Peralta Mets trade chatter moved from background noise to center stage Sunday, even as New York beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-3 at Citi Field.
Peralta, acquired by the Mets in late January, told ESPN he knew Sunday was probably his last start for the club with the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaching. The 30-year-old right-hander can become a free agent after the season, and ESPN reported that New York’s postseason hopes have faded.
“I know it probably is,” Peralta said of the possibility that he had just pitched his final game for the Mets, according to ESPN. He added that he was grateful to be with the organization, but said he had “let them down” and had not done what he was supposed to do.
Will the Mets trade Freddy Peralta?
ESPN reported that Peralta is likely to be moved because the Mets are out of the playoff picture and he is headed for free agency. A trade would let New York recoup value rather than risk losing him for nothing after the season.
Sunday’s outing was more grit than glamour. Peralta gave up three runs, two earned, and needed 93 pitches to get through four innings against the Dodgers. That still marked an improvement from his previous start, when he allowed seven runs in 5 ⅓ innings.
The season numbers tell the harder story. ESPN reported that Peralta has a 4.99 ERA through 22 starts. He has reached the sixth inning in 11 of those outings and finished five innings in 15.
That was not the version of Peralta the Mets expected when they sent two top prospects to the Milwaukee Brewers for him and Tobias Myers. ESPN reported that Myers is currently in Triple-A.
Peralta acknowledged the gap between expectation and result, telling ESPN that he believes he can pitch much better and still sees himself as someone with more to show.
There was at least one encouraging sign for clubs watching. Peralta said after the game that his fastball command felt closer to his best form, even though Los Angeles made him work with long at-bats and foul balls.
His résumé still matters. ESPN noted that Peralta is a two-time All-Star and was coming off a career year with Milwaukee, where he posted a 2.70 ERA over 176 ⅔ innings.
New York’s win turned after Peralta left. Tyrone Taylor, another player ESPN described as a likely trade candidate, hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth inning.
Taylor has been on a tear since coming off the injured list last month. ESPN reported that he is batting .382 with five home runs and a 1.403 OPS in 39 plate appearances during that stretch.
Like Peralta, Taylor can become a free agent after the season. Unlike Peralta, Taylor told ESPN he has not spent much time thinking about the likelihood that he could be dealt.
Mets interim general manager Andy Green said Taylor is expected to start a couple of games against the Atlanta Braves this week, according to ESPN. That would give New York another chance to put him in front of teams looking for outfield help.
Peralta said he understands the business side of the deadline, but cannot control it. For now, his plan is to keep showing up and pitch if the Mets still hand him the ball.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.