Apr 12, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) pitches in the third inning against the Athletics at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
QUEENS, NY �— Freddy Peralta’s tenure with the New York Mets is over after four months, as the veteran starting pitcher was dealt to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, just over 24 hours before Major League Baseball’s trade deadline.
In return, the Mets are receiving outfielder Aidan Smith, right-handed pitcher Gary Gill Hill, and second baseman Emilien Pitre, who were ranked No. 15, 26, and 27 within the Rays’ farm system.
Peralta was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers over the winter for top prospects Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams in hopes of providing New York’s rotation with a legitimate ace. The 30-year-old went 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA and finished fifth in the NL Cy Young Award voting last season.
But it never came together with the Mets. Peralta struggled to go deep into games and lacked legitimate putaway stuff to profile as more of a bottom-of-the-rotation starter than anything. The pending free agent had a 4.99 ERA in 22 starts, as it became all but certain that he would be dealt before the deadline.
“I know he’s disappointed by [his Mets tenure],” interim manager Andy Green said following the Mets’ 2-0 loss to the Miami Marlins on Sunday. “He came here to anchor a rotation and felt the weight of that. I know from talking to him, he certainly didn’t feel like it went the way that he hoped it would. I think we all feel that way. Where we are today screams that we were all in a different spot. He gave us everything that he had… I know he wanted better results. When we struck the deal to get him, we were all hoping for a different set of circumstances on this day than what we’re looking at.”
Peralta was held out of his scheduled start on Friday to ensure he remained healthy, all but confirming that his time in Queens was up.
The Rays, who entered Sunday’s action with a 3.5-game lead over the Yankees for first place in the American League East, were in need of added starting pitching depth behind an already formidable trio of Drew Rasmussen, Shane McClanahan, and Nick Martinez. The small-market Rays, much like Peralt’s former team, the Brewers, have had a knack for maximizing their pitching talent and getting slumping arms back to their best.
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