New MLB Rumors Reveal Freddy Peralta's Contract Ask Amid Mets Trade Rumors Ahead of Deadline

All eyes are going to be on the New York Mets ahead of the trade deadline, given their brutal 28-36 start and their MLB-high $334.5 million payroll. A sell-off seems very likely unless the Mets start stringing wins together.

One player to watch will be starting pitcher Freddy Peralta, though USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported Sunday that the Mets "still have no interest in shopping Freddy Peralta or anyone else as president of baseball operations David Stearns still has faith they can make a postseason run."

If that changes, however, Peralta won't come cheap. Alongside the assets it will take to land him, the 30-year-old is also seeking a steep contract.

Per Nightengale, "If a team acquires Peralta at the trade deadline and wants to keep him, they better be ready to pay up. Peralta will be seeking a free agent contract similar to Max Fried's eight-year, $218 million deal, according to those familiar with Peralta's expectations."

Peralta's argument for earning Fried money will be his three straight seasons with 200 or more strikeouts between 2023-25, though he doesn't seem to be on pace to make it four in a row. He's been solid for the Mets in 2026, going 4-4 in 13 starts with a 3.63 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 74 strikeouts in 72 innings, though perhaps not quite to the level the Mets were hoping for after his brilliant 2025 (2.70 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 204 strikeouts).

The Mets gave up two top prospects for Peralta (Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams), and only having him around for half a season may be a tough pill to swallow. But keeping him on a sinking ship, only to potentially lose him for nothing in free agency, would be a far greater blunder.