2026 MLB trade deadline rumors, news, live updates: Dodgers acquire ace Tarik Skubal from Tigers; Mets deal Freddy Peralta to Rays
After losing the Tarik Skubal sweepstakes, Tampa Bay pivoted swiftly, acquiring arguably the second-best hurler on the free-agent market. It has been a bizarre, disappointing season for Freddy Peralta, who joined the Mets via trade from Milwaukee last winter to great fanfare. The righty was coming off a strong half-decade of performance for the Brewers. He was expected to lead the line for a Mets club with high expectations and a higher payroll.
Instead, Peralta became one of the many faces of a most woeful few months in Queens. After rocking a 3.30 ERA between 2021 and 2026, the gregarious Dominican slogged to a 4.99 across 22 forgettable starts with the Mets. His strikeout rate has dipped, he’s giving up more hard contact, and he’s conjuring way fewer whiffs.
Most concerningly, to a layman’s eye, it’s difficult to pinpoint why exactly such a dependable arm took such a definitive step back. Peralta’s stuff is only slightly down. His mix hasn’t changed. His arm angle has dropped just slightly. It’s a weird one. And it’s now Tampa Bay’s responsibility to carry. Given the organization’s track record of pitching development, nobody would be surprised if pitching coach Kyle Snyder and his staff get Peralta back on track. They’ve done more with less many times over.
Given Tampa Bay’s status atop the mess that is the American League in 2026, this was a deal they absolutely had to make. The Rays have about as clear a path to the pennant as they’ve had for quite some time. Opportunities such as this don’t come knocking often. Peralta will slot right into their rotation, replacing the recently injured Shane McClanahan, and should start the second or third playoff game come October.
Should the Rays have been more involved in Skubal? Probably. A bit more aggression could have gone a long way. But at least they aren’t completely sitting on their hands. Peralta, even this diminished version, makes them better. And if the Rays can make the necessary tweaks, this could be a real game-changer come playoff time.
