Ex-MLB GM has Freddy Peralta trade deadline stance that Mets should listen to

The New York Mets have had a rough season through the first week of May. And if things don't get better soon, they could be looking at a fire sale at the trade deadline.

While the Mets want to avoid such a scenario at any cost, they might be forced into such a terrible spot if things don't change for the better.

Former MLB general manager Jim Bowden, for The Athletic, shared his starting pitcher trade candidates, and named Freddy Peralta, who the Mets just got from the Milwaukee Brewers this past offseason, as one candidate.

"After eight seasons with the Brewers, Peralta, 29, was traded to the Mets this offseason in a deal that was supposed to put New York in a position to contend for a World Series title," Bowden writes. Nothing has gone according to plan thus far, though Peralta hasn't been the reason for the team's poor start."

While the Mets might not want to trade Peralta, with things going as badly as they are, and plenty of uncertainty about signing Peralta to a long-term deal, the Mets should very seriously consider trading him if things continue to go south this year.

Why Mets should trade Freddy Peralta

Peralta is an impending free agent this upcoming offseason, and if things go poorly and the Mets miss the postseason, they will have wasted the prospects they sent to the Milwaukee Brewers for Peralta on just one season of the righty ace.

Instead of simply losing Peralta for nothing this offseason, it would make sense for the Mets to trade him to a contender for some prospects in return.

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They might not be able to recoup the value they spent to acquire him, but a contender in search of starting pitching might still give up a decent amount to acquire the righty.

Since he's not the reason for the team's struggles this season, there should be no issue finding a suitor willing to spend a bit to acquire Peralta, who has a 3.12 ERA this season and still looks like a front-line starter.

If he were under control for more than 2026, then the Mets should hold onto him. But that's not the case, and if things are truly terrible come the end of July and the trade deadline, the Mets have little reason to hold onto Peralta.

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