Trade talks for a rumored top offseason target of the New York Mets and New York Yankees are expected to heat up again very soon.
The Mets and Yankees experienced vastly different outcomes in their 2025 MLB campaigns. While both clubs entered the year as serious World Series contenders and were two of the best teams in the league during the first half, the club from Queens shockingly collapsed in September and missed the playoffs. On the other hand, the Yanks made it to the playoffs, but they were ousted in the divisional round by the Toronto Blue Jays.
After seasons that fell well below expectations, both clubs are, oddly enough, in the market for the same thing: Impact starting pitching. The Mets’ rotation failed them late in the season, and they need more proven veterans to be slump stoppers. While the Yanks need more meaningful depth since Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon are expected to miss time early in the new season.
One player that the pair of clubs have been linked to, and would be a huge addition for their rotations in 2026, is Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta. The 29-year-old had a breakthrough All-Star season last year, winning 17 games. However, he is in the final year of his contract and is expected to land a massive deal that Milwaukee won’t be able to match next offseason.
Freddy Peralta stats: 17-6 record, 2.70 ERA, 1.075 WHIP, 204 SO, 66 BB
What also makes him appealing to any team beyond his talent is that he will only make $8 million next season. Yet, that is also a reason why trade rumors have died down in recent weeks, because the Brewers want to make another playoff run in 2026, and holding on to the affordable ace would help in that goal.
But it seems the Freddy Peralta trade chatter is expected to reignite soon. “The Freddy Peralta talks are about to resume in earnest,” The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon report. The MLB insiders add that both the NY Mets and NY Yankees, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, and some low-revenue clubs are expected to be in the hunt for the pitcher.
While Peralta may be a one-year rental for the team that acquires him, any club that gets him can recoup one prospect by making him a qualifying offer and receiving a Competitive Balance Round A pick in the low 30s in 2027.
