Mets Acquire Two-Time all-Star Freddy Peralta in Blockbuster Trade with Brewers
Brandon Woodruff accepted a qualifying offer, prompting the team to explore trade options. “The Peralta trade allows us to create financial versatility while also adding to our pipeline of young talent,” a senior official stated.
Peralta, 29, enjoyed a career year in 2025, finishing fifth in the National League Cy Young voting. He delivered 30 starts for the third consecutive season, setting personal bests in wins (17), innings pitched (176 ), ERA (2.70), and WAR (5.5). His 5.5 WAR ranked fourth in the national League and eighth among all MLB pitchers, solidifying his status as one of the game’s elite starters. With the Mets, Peralta is expected to anchor a rotation that also includes emerging rookie Nolan McLean, alongside veterans Jonah Tong, Clay Holmes, Sean Manaea, David Peterson, and Kodai Senga.
The acquisition aligns with the vision of Mets President of Baseball operations David Stearns, who previously worked with Peralta in Milwaukee and had publicly expressed a desire for a frontline starter for the 2026 season.
This trade caps a busy offseason for the mets, who have also added significant offensive firepower in Luis Robert Jr., Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien, and Jorge Polanco. However, the team also said goodbye to key contributors like Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, Brandon Nimmo, and Edwin Díaz. Despite the departures, the Mets are clearly signaling a commitment to immediate contention.
Even after trading away Peralta, the NL Central champion Brewers maintain impressive pitching depth, with a rotation currently projected to include brandon Woodruff, Jacob Misiorowski, quinn Priester, Chad Patrick, Logan Henderson, Robert Gasser, and DL Hall.The team believes this depth will allow them to remain competitive in the division.
Peralta is entering the final year of a five-year, $15.5 million contract extension signed in February 2020, which includes an $8 million club option for both 2024 and 2025, making him a relative bargain. the Mets will have the opportunity to extend a qualifying offer to Peralta following the 2026 season, potentially receiving a draft pick if he signs elsewhere, offsetting some of the trade cost. A long-term extension remains a possibility, which would be the preferred outcome for the institution.
Tobias Myers, 27, provided valuable innings for the Brewers in 2025, making six starts and 16 relief appearances, posting a solid ERA+ of 132 and a FIP of 3.92 across 188 innings.
On the Brewers’ side, outfielder Jett Williams, ranked as the No. 14 prospect in the National League East by CBS Sports, brings a unique skillset. According to R.J. Anderson, “Williams will test your preconceived notions. He’s a 5-foot-7 speedster who has experience at all three up-the-middle positions. Yet his offensive game isn’t built on a strong foundation of bat-to-ball skills. Rather, he’s all about the slug.” Despite a high strikeout rate (73.5% in Triple-A), Williams’ power, speed, and defensive versatility project a promising big-league career.
Rounding out the trade, 25-year-old right-hander Brandon Sproat, who made four starts for the Mets last season, offers a high-velocity arm, averaging 96 mph with his fastball during his brief time in the majors. Across two minor-league campaigns, Sproat has maintained a 3.83 ERA and a 2.57 K/BB ratio in 48 starts and two relief appearances.
The Mets’ aggressive offseason moves, culminating in the acquisition of Peralta, demonstrate a clear commitment to building a championship contender, while the Brewers strategically position themselves for future success through a combination of financial flexibility and prospect growth.
