Padres predicted to sign Rays' 4.56 ERA starter to multi-year free agent deal

The San Diego Padres have clinched a 2026 postseason spot, but looking ahead a bit to the 2026-2027 MLB offseason, they're going to have some work to do.

One of the Padres' most important tasks this offseason will be revitalizing their starting rotation. Their rotation right now is in good shape, but that'll change after 2026. The Padres will need to add multiple starters this offseason.

That's why the prediction from Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley is that the Padres will go out and sign Tampa Bay Rays pitcher and former New York Mets starting pitcher Freddy Peralta to a multi-year deal that'd perfectly resolve their pitcher issue.

Padres predicted to sign Freddy Peralta to multi-year free-agent deal

"Prediction: Peralta signs a two-year deal with the San Diego Padres," Buckley predicts for the Rays' starting pitcher.

Peralta would make perfect sense for the Padres this offseason. He will most likely be a one-year rental after a down 2026 season.

With the Mets, he posted a 4.99 ERA in 113.2 innings. That kind of production would normally indicate he's not going to get a quality deal in the offseason.

A one-year prove-it deal is most likely for such a player. But after going 50 innings with the Rays since being acquired at the deadline, Peralta has posted a 3.60 ERA, good enough for teams to consider a multi-year offer for Peralta.

MORE: Freddy Peralta's resurgence with Rays makes for fascinating free agency question

The Padres have a recent example of a deal that they could give to Peralta, as their three-year, $75 million contract for Michael King, with opt-outs after the first and second seasons, would be a good deal to replicate with Peralta.

Signing Peralta would make perfect sense, as King's likely to opt out of his deal, and with Nick Pivetta, Robbie Ray, and Casey Mize all set to be free agents after the season, they're going to need more starting pitching help this offseason.

Peralta is the perfect kind of high-upside starting pitcher that won't cost the Padres a fortune and would be worth signing this offseason. Buckley's prediction would be a great outcome for the Padres this winter.

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