The New York Mets’ starting rotation will be rebuilt this offseason, likely from both free agency and via the trade market. With a deep class of free agent starting pitchers and multiple big-name guys believed to be on the trade market this winter, the Mets have plenty of options to construct a rotation that helps lead the club to a postseason return in 2026.

In a recent article, Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter predicted New York to land one of the most desired pitching names of the offseason, Freddy Peralta. Peralta has one year remaining on his deal with the Milwaukee Brewers before entering free agency next winter. With a salary of just $8 million in 2026, teams will be biting on the All-Star, and the Mets should be the team going all-in.

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Peralta had the best season of his eight-year career in 2025, posting a 2.70 ERA across 33 starts. In 176 â…” innings, the 29-year-old struck out 204 batters on his way to a 1.07 WHIP. His 17 wins last season were the most in the National League.

Looking at his advanced statistics, it’s easy to understand why Peralta is one of the most desirable names available in all of baseball this winter. He relies heavily on his four-seam fastball, but even if batters know it’s coming, it doesn’t matter, as he ranks in the 84th percentile for fastball run value. It doesn’t get easier from there for opposing batters, with Peralta sitting in the 88th percentile for breaking run value and 96th for offspeed run value.

Peralta is near the top of the league in expected batting average, whiff percentage, strikeout percentage, and hard-hit percentage. It’s no wonder that teams are foaming at the mouth to acquire Peralta this winter on just an $8 million salary.

The Mets are the obvious candidate to make a move for Peralta, who finished fifth in Cy Young voting last season. Their current rotation needs multiple pieces to be considered even somewhat of a threat. New York has the assets required to make a hypothetical Peralta deal happen, and it also has the money to immediately sign him to an extension to keep him beyond the 2026 campaign.

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With the disaster that came from the Mets’ rotation in the final months of the 2025 season, it wouldn’t come as a surprise to anybody if the Mets made a big move for one of baseball’s top starters before signing him to a massive deal. Owner Steve Cohen has the money and has expressed his desire to return to the postseason next season – trading for Freddy Peralta helps their chances quite a bit.