3 ways David Stearns can make up for letting Edwin Diaz leave the NY Mets

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Aug 12, 2025; New York City, New York, USA;  New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) runs after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Aug 12, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) runs after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
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Trade for Freddy Peralta

One player the Mets have been connected to this offseason is starting pitcher Freddy Peralta. The Mets’ current rotation has many questions; they have a handful of rookies between Jonah Tong, Brandon Sproat, and Nolan McLean vying for rotation spots, with rebound candidate Sean Manaea also in the running. David Peterson fell off hard in the second half, and so did Kodai Senga, who may get traded this offseason. Peralta would be the sort of anchor the Mets’ rotation needs right now.

Peralta posted a 2.70 ERA, with a 3.64 FIP, and 1.08 WHIP while tallying 176.2 innings pitched. He struck out 28.2% of batters he faced, which was the eighth-highest mark among qualified starters this season, with a 9.1% walk rate. He also ranked 15th in K%-BB%. Peralta’s 1.07 HR/9 ratio was about league average, and he owned both an 88 MPH exit velocity and a 9.1% barrel rate.

While Peralta’s ERA may look strong, his overall peripherals are about the same as they had been the past two seasons. Between 2023 and 2024, Peralta had a 29.2% K%, 8.7% walk rate, 87.6 MPH exit velocity, and 8.6% barrel percentage. His ERA estimators were also very similar, with a 3.68 SIERA and 3.85 xFIP in 2025, compared to a 3.61 SIERA and 3.68 xFIP throughout 2023 and 2024.

Although Peralta is arguably more of a 3.50 ERA starter than a 2.70 ERA starter, 2025 still marked the third season in a row he made 30 or more starts. His +14.8 fWAR since 2021 ranks top 20 among starting pitchers. On top of that, Peralta’s impact on the payroll is microscopic, as he is owed just $8 million in 2026. If the Mets want to solidify their rotation, Peralta is one of the best choices out there.

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