These 3 MLB teams could be sick enough to outbid NY Mets for Freddy Peralta

Right-handed starting pitcher Freddy Peralta may not be on the New York Mets’ roster by the end of the season, but the Mets still have a way of having him back in 2027.

Peralta initially came to New York from the Milwaukee Brewers via a trade this past offseason. But with the 30-year-old veteran set to hit free agency after this season, he’s started to stand out as one of the Mets’ top tradable players. Even after a series win against the Atlanta Braves over the weekend, the Mets’ record remains below .500. The team is also still in last place in the National League East. Signs still point to New York offloading – rather than acquiring – players ahead of MLB’s trade deadline.

The Mets did not extend Peralta before the start of the 2026 season. That decision has given David Stearns, the team’s president of baseball operations, the flexibility to trade the starter for prospects at the deadline. Even if Peralta remains with the team through the end of 2026, New York also could use the financial might of owner Steve Cohen down the road to hold onto Peralta in free agency.

That’s no guarantee, however. For one thing, Stearns has proven to be reluctant to hand out long-term contracts to pitchers during his tenure. USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported that Peralta is "seeking a free agent contract similar to Max Fried’s eight-year, $218 million deal." For another, Peralta will be one of the best starting pitchers available in free agency – many teams will be competing with the Mets for Peralta’s services in the offseason.

Here are three of the most likely teams to contend with New York’s efforts to re-sign Peralta:

Three teams that could outbid Mets for Freddy Peralta

Whoever loses the Tarik Skubal sweepstakes

Skubal is unequivocally, inarguably the No. 1 starting pitcher set to become available on the free agent market in the coming offseason. He’ll undoubtedly draw interest from all of baseball’s top-spending teams – and potentially some mid-market teams – as they try to add one of the game’s best pitchers to their respective rotations.

But Skubal can only sign with one team. All of the teams trying to court Skubal in the offseason will need to have a Plan B to turn to once the southpaw makes his big decision. As things stand right now, Peralta could well be that Plan B for the same group of Skubal’s suitors. He’s not a lefty, but Peralta is another top-end starter who is in line for a massive contract given his success through his first seven seasons.

That being the case, whichever team “comes in second” trying to sign Skubal will have the chance to re-direct the money they would have used on the Tigers’ ace to sign Peralta instead. And after missing on Skubal, that team will likely try to give the Mets a literal run for their money in a potential bidding war for the Dominican right-hander.

Philadelphia Phillies

The Mets reportedly swooped in to sign Bo Bichette last offseason after the Phillies offered the shortstop a seven-year, $200 million deal. Philadelphia could get its revenge this season by signing away another former Mets pitcher seven years after signing Zack Wheeler.

The Phillies need help in their starting rotation behind Wheeler and ace Cristopher Sánchez. Behind those two at the top of their rotation are three pitchers with ERAs above 4.30: Jesús Luzardo (4.35), Andrew Painter (6.43) and Aaron Nola (5.86). The latter two pitchers’ ERAs rank in the bottom 10 among starting pitchers with at least 60 innings pitched. And when Philadelphia tried to experiment with an opener ahead of Painter in his last appearance, he allowed five earned runs in five innings.

Dave Dombrowski, Philadelphia’s president of baseball operations, has proven he is not afraid to spend money on big-name free agents. The Phillies are at risk of giving up their division title streak after two straight years leading the NL East in large part because of their lack of quality pitching outside of their top two starters. They’ve also been unable to put together deep postseason runs in the last two seasons despite division wins. Peralta could become another one of the “big fish” free agents Dombrowski goes after this coming offseason to drastically raise the Philadelphia pitching staff’s ceiling and floor.

San Francisco Giants

The Giants are one of the worst teams in MLB halfway through June and currently do not have a starting pitcher in their rotation with an ERA below 3.50 outside of ace Logan Webb. San Francisco’s pitching staff has a combined ERA that ranks in the bottom 10 of MLB. In addition, Tyler Mahle and Robbie Ray will hit free agency after this season.

Acquiring help for the rotation this offseason will have to be a major focus for Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey. Last offseason, Posey and the Giants were reported to be among top contenders to trade for Peralta before the Mets ended up finalizing their deal. In the coming offseason, San Francisco will get the chance to acquire Peralta in free agency and without needing to give up prospects.

Through a couple of seasons as his former team’s top executive, Posey has already started to build a reputation as a POBO willing to make splash moves. He helped former Giants POBO Farhan Zaidi negotiate a deal for third baseman Matt Chapman in 2024, signed shortstop Willy Adames to a massive deal in 2025 and swung a blockbuster trade for first baseman Rafael Devers midseason last year.

Signing Peralta could be the next big move for Posey. San Francisco’s POBO desperately needs pitching help for his team, wanted to acquire the former Brewers pitcher earlier this calendar year and is willing to spend top-dollar on great players.

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