Freddy Peralta, a pitcher the New York Mets traded away last summer, is now a free agent who could make their division rivals pay. Yahoo Sports reported that the Braves could sign Peralta to a long-term deal, a move that would sting the Mets if he faces them for years in the NL East. The Mets failed to get the best out of him, and now they might have to watch him dominate while wearing a different uniform.
Peralta finished the regular season with a 3.25 ERA in 10 starts for the Tampa Bay Rays after the trade. The Rays saw him post a 0.79 ERA across his final six regular season starts, proving he was even sharper down the stretch. He has been brilliant in the postseason so far, proving he can handle high-pressure games. Last year, the Mets probably regret not discovering how to maximize Peralta’s potential. Bringing him to Atlanta would fix a rotation that currently looks shaky without a clear number two starter.
The Rotation Math Gets Real
The Braves have options, but none are guaranteed to be the answer they need right now. Chris Sale is a veteran, but the team also views younger arms like AJ Smith-Shawver and Spencer Schwellenbach as potential rotation options. Grant Holmes and Bryce Elder are there too, and Spencer Strider is a big question mark after his injuries. Although Tyler Mahle and MartÃn Pérez are both free agents, it remains uncertain whether Strider can replicate his pre-injury performance.
Signing Peralta alone cannot resolve the Braves rotation issues, yet it represents a positive initial step.
Why The Mets Will Pay The Price
Signing Peralta hits the Mets where it hurts the most: their pride and their standings. The Mets acquired him last offseason but watched him struggle before trading him to Tampa Bay. Now he is back on track, and if he wears a Braves jersey, every time he pitches against New York will feel like a personal betrayal. The Braves could make the situation painful for the Mets by signing Peralta to a long-term deal, forcing divisional matchups for years.
Addressing the rotation is essential for the Braves, and compensating Peralta would serve as an excellent beginning. He has the stuff to beat any lineup, and the Mets know exactly what they lost. If the Braves sign him, they get a pitcher who is hot right now and a player who knows how to beat the team in the next city over. The Mets fans will be watching every start, hoping he fails, but the stats say he will succeed.
