Surprise Yankees trade makes them a wild card in NY Mets' Freddy Peralta chase

You’re on an airplane to go see a New York Mets game out in California. You have the choice between chicken or beef. There’s only a certain number of each available. You’re near the back. You really want the beef. Your lip reading skills tell you so does everyone else from rows 1-20. Eventually, it’ll run out. Then some fool who pre-ordered a vegetarian meal decides enough is enough. They unexpectedly trade in their meal for another beef. Sigh. Who saw that coming?

Those were the words many had when the New York Yankees surprised us all with a 4-for-1 swap with the Miami Marlins that landed them pitcher Ryan Weathers. A bizarre move fans are trying to wrap their heads around, one might begin to think this takes the Yankees out of the running for Freddy Peralta. Perhaps not.

Apparently they’re still right there with interest in Peralta. In fact, they have something the Mets don’t that could satisfy the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Yankees have a ready-made starting pitcher for the Brewers in any Freddy Peralta trade

The Yankees can build a package around Luis Gil and tempt the Brewers in ways the Mets can’t. We all assume any trade for Peralta would require at least Brandon Sproat. He’s near MLB-ready if not already there. He was good at times, a little too green in other moments last year. Gil is the 2024 Rookie of the Year and an already successful big leaguer. He can immediately step into Milwaukee’s rotation and put together just as good of a season as Peralta or at least something close to it.

The Mets have no such asset. David Peterson is a pending free agent and has a higher salary than Peralta. Kodai Senga is getting paid about double Peralta and has more questions than a 3-year-old who saw something they shouldn’t.

Peralta remains one of the most popular starting pitcher trade candidates out there. The Boston Red Sox and even the San Diego Padres have interest as well as the Mets. The Brewers benefit long-term from trading him now rather than letting him leave in free agency. The key is getting the right replacement. Gil is a first-year arbitration eligible player making just over $2 million. While the financial savings are minimal, the Brewers remain competitive this season and for several more.

The lone advantage the Mets may have in any Peralta trade discussions is the ability to send them multiple pitching prospects without missing a beat. Is that actually what the Brewers want? They’re coming off of a season where they won more games than anybody else. They aren’t resetting by trading Peralta. Gil plus prospects should be more satisfying than anything the Mets can assemble.