The New York Mets are rapidly falling out of contention, and as the trade deadline approaches, rival teams are beginning to circle. According to a report from Steve Adams of MLBTradeRumors.com, citing Bruce Levine of 670 The Score, the Chicago Cubs have expressed interest in acquiring starting pitcher Freddy Peralta from the Mets.
Part of this speculation holds water, while another aspect seems far-fetched. On the reasonable side, the Cubs have enjoyed a strong start to the season even with multiple starters on the injured list, making early exploration of the starting pitching market a logical move. Including Peralta in those discussions also makes sense—he has been limited to five- or six-inning outings for the Mets so far, which strains a bullpen already burdened with similar starters. As New York continues to struggle, its relief corps has been overworked repeatedly.
The Mets’ current predicament adds another layer to the conversation. With a deep prospect pipeline featuring arms like Jonah Tong and Jack Wenninger waiting in the wings, some argue these youngsters are ready for summer call-ups. Tong, in particular, showed flashes during his late-season stint with the Mets, so letting him gain experience at the big-league level could be viable if New York falls further out of the playoff race.
Where the rumor becomes less plausible is the context of Peralta’s acquisition. The Mets sent young starter Brandon Sproat—a developing talent now finding his footing in a long-relief/spot-starter role—and prospect Jett Williams to the Milwaukee Brewers to land Peralta. Giving up on Peralta so soon, especially if the Mets’ offense can heat up and he can string together a hot streak, seems premature.
Still, similar rumors are expected to surface more frequently. Most will likely involve pitchers like Clay Holmes and the struggling David Peterson, and there may even be a team willing to take a chance on Sean Manaea if the Mets absorb most of his salary. Levine quickly walked back his initial report, but that does not rule out that the possibility was discussed. The Mets will field numerous calls regarding Peralta’s availability, with the Cubs merely being the first to test the waters before trade talks intensify.