Braves, Dodgers butting into the NY Mets rumors we were most certain would come true

Leave it to the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers to spoil the New York Mets rumors we were most certain would come true. As if this hasn’t already been a difficult enough offseason for fans of the Amazins, now it’s the Braves and Dodgers who covet the one starting pitcher trade addition who felt most destined to land with the Mets.

Looking to boost their own rotations, the Braves and Dodgers are eyeing Milwaukee Brewers starter Freddy Peralta. It’s the kind of offseason turn we’ve come to expect with the Mets feeling like they’ve let more than a handful of opportunities pass them by in the last few weeks.

The offseason is hardly over and interest in Peralta should span throughout the league. He has an affordable salary and is coming off of a career-year. A team like the Braves, who tend to compete without spending a fortune, as well as the Dodgers who know no financial bounds can accomplish a lot with him plugged in as one of the team’s top starters.

The Braves and Dodgers are looking to steal more from the Mets than they already have

This has been an offseason of thievery between some of MLB’s top clubs. The Mets have been robbing the New York Yankees blind. Meanwhile, the Braves have taken a pair of Mets coaches, Jeremy Hefner and Antoan Richardson. The Dodgers upped the ante by taking Edwin Diaz.

Their involvement in any pursuit of Peralta complicates things for the Mets. It ups the bidding and will make it more difficult to get Milwaukee to budge. After all, they don’t have to trade Peralta.

The Mets and Dodgers are a safe bet to be the top suitors for Tarik Skubal in free agency if he isn’t traded by the Detroit Tigers first. Before that chase begins, it appears they’ll throw some fists over Peralta. Watch out for the Braves who could jump from the top rope. They’ve been savvy enough with trades in recent offseasons. Picking up players like Matt Olson, Sean Murphy, Chris Sale, and others via trade, they’ve spent most of this offseason plugging up holes with free agent additions.

It’s hard to imagine the Braves missing the playoffs again. They had an uncharacteristically bad year in large part due to the injuries to the pitchers. Where have we heard that excuse before? It’s fair enough, but with a full offseason to get things right and a core still in place and not cut loose via free agency or traded to other cities, they look ready to run it back with improvements around an already built structure.

Few things are worse than seeing a Mets trade target land with a hated rival. Short of a ridiculous overpay, letting Peralta go to either of these NL foes would be inexcusable for the Mets.