NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Freddy Peralta is willing to consider a multiyear contract with the Mets before reaching free agency.<\/p>\n
But he wants to get settled in New York first.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got to see around, share time with my teammates and think about different ideas, learn about everybody, coaches (and) the organization in general,\u201d the All-Star pitcher said Tuesday. \u201cAnd then we can see.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns<\/a> expressed a similar sentiment after acquiring Peralta in a trade with Milwaukee<\/a> last week, saying he would definitely allow the right-hander an adjustment period before potentially broaching a long-term arrangement.<\/p>\n The 29-year-old Peralta is due to make $8 million this season after the Brewers picked up their club option on a deal he signed in 2020. He can become a free agent following the World Series.<\/p>\n So next winter, Peralta could be in line for a very lucrative contract as one of the most attractive players on the open market. And with only one year of club control remaining, he couldn\u2019t fully ignore the chatter about a potential trade from small-market Milwaukee this offseason \u2014 or resist connecting the dots that made a move to the Mets a likely outcome.<\/p>\n \u201cI was trying to avoid that but I couldn\u2019t because family members (and) everybody (was) talking about it all the time,\u201d Peralta said on a Zoom call with reporters. \u201cBut I had a feeling that I was coming to the Mets.\u201d<\/p>\n His hunch came to fruition last Wednesday, when New York sent pitcher Brandon Sproat and touted prospect Jett Williams to the Brewers for Peralta and right-hander Tobias Myers.<\/p>\n The deal reunites Peralta with Stearns, who ran Milwaukee’s front office from 2015-23. Stearns pulled off one of his biggest moves with the Brewers on Dec. 9, 2015, when he acquired Peralta, then a 19-year-old who hadn\u2019t pitched above rookie ball, from the Seattle Mariners for veteran first baseman\/designated hitter Adam Lind.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew that something was going to happen and it was a little hard at the same time, because I spent my whole career in Milwaukee and there\u2019s a lot of great memories over there,\u201d Peralta said. \u201cBut this is a business and anything can happen. I was prepared for the moment. And being honest, I\u2019m really happy to be here in New York and be a member of the Mets organization.\u201d<\/p>\n