Blue Jays named landing spot for Brewers' ace with elite 2.60 ERA

The Milwaukee Brewers have some deadline decisions to make.

With a 39-35 record heading into Wednesday, they sit 6.5 games behind the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central but are just one game back in the NL Wild Card.

Should the Brewers double down on their playoff push or pivot toward acquiring future assets with a major trade?

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MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand recently weighed in on Milwaukee’s potential strategy, suggesting the Brewers could cut ties with their best pitcher while he's at the peak of his trade value.

“Like the (Tampa Bay) Rays, the Brewers have a history of dealing players as they get closer to free agency (see Josh Hader, Corbin Burnes and Devin Williams), though trading (Freddy) Peralta would be a bold move given that Milwaukee sits only 1 1/2 games out of a Wild Card spot,” Feinsand wrote.

“Still, with an $8 million salary in 2025 and an $8 million club option for 2026, Peralta would surely draw interest from teams looking for controllable pitching, which is always a popular target around the Trade Deadline. Potential fits: (Toronto) Blue Jays, (Atlanta) Braves, (Baltimore) Orioles, (New York) Yankees.”

Could the Blue Jays land Peralta? Toronto would love to add to their rotation a 29-year-old with a 2.60 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 84 strikeouts across 15 starts in 2025 (who wouldn't?).

With a cost-controlled $8 million salary for 2025 and an $8 million club option for 2026, Peralta offers Toronto a rare chance to add a top-tier starter without breaking the bank.

For Toronto, snagging Peralta could transform their rotation and signal an all-in push for October. The question is, will he be up for sale at all?

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