Mets trade Freddy Peralta to Rays for three prospects

sportsAug 2, 202617183

The New York Mets traded right-hander Freddy Peralta to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday for outfielder Aidan Smith, second baseman Émilien Pitre and right-hander Gary Gill Hill. The move gives Tampa Bay a rotation that entered the day third in the American League in ERA and represents a push to strengthen its postseason odds. Peralta, acquired by the Mets from Milwaukee in January, has struggled over the past two months as his arm slot dropped, his fastball usage fell from about 80 percent earlier in his career to just over 50 percent, and his strikeout and whiff rates fell to career lows. From 2023 to 2025 Peralta ranked among the top 25 starters in innings pitched, ERA and WAR, so the Rays are betting on his track record despite this season's inconsistency. The Mets took a diversified prospect haul rather than one marquee piece: Pitre, a second-round pick from Quebec out of Kentucky, has nearly a two-to-one walk-to-strikeout ratio between High A and Double A and projects as a possible everyday second baseman. Gill Hill, a sixth-round pick from Kennedy Catholic, shows an extended repertoire and an effective sweeper from a lower arm slot but has an OPS north of .900 against left-handed hitters this season. Smith, a fourth-round Texas high-school pick and the highest-ranked of the three to start the year, offers raw power but has struck out in more than 30 percent of his plate appearances in each of the last two seasons.

Jon Heyman

@jonheyman.bsky.social

Freddy Peralta has been traded from the Mets to the Rays.

614h ago

Itgetzbybuckner1

Good. he was an utter disappointment.

Quoting this

Molly Knight50

Are the brewers awake Are they alive

inthefade11

i swear i just hear my father shout "fuck yeah" from across the street

Mr. Nick Beaudrot3

Teams in small markets like Queens can't compete with big markets like the Tampa-St Petersburg metropolitan area.

Bob Nightengale

@bnightengale.bsky.social

The Tampa Bay Rays are acquiring SP Freddy Peralta from the New York Mets, per sources.

294h ago

Quoting this

Bob Nightengale23

Will Sammon first on it

Kasey Kagawa2

I can't wait to hear the "but-but-but Dodgers bad" when the only contender in the NL that trades for starting pitching is us

Roger Cormier

@themetsnewsletter.com

The Mets traded Freddy Peralta to the Rays for Aidan Smith, Emilien Pitre and Gary Gill Hill, per Mark Feinsand and Jonathan Mayo

124h ago

Roger Cormier6

OF Aidan Smith (15th on Rays Pipeline), 2B Emilien Pitre (27th), RHP Gary Gill Hill (26th)

Quoting this

JR Radcliffe15

This return allows me to believe the Brewers could get two pitchers at this deadline and not break the bank.

Mike Wilner8

15, 27, 26 on #Rays prospect list on #MLB Pipeline.

Morris “Day and The Time” Katz6

Glen Gary Glen Gill Hill Ross

Erik Malinowski5

my son is also named gary gill hill

where the heck is saki??3

given the actual performance he gave this year, honestly not a bad return for the Mets?

Jim Goulart3

I had just expressed my fascination with Gary Gill Hill - well, mostly with his name - in Friday’s Link Report (Biloxi portion)!

Jaymes2

That seems really good for what the Mets got out of Freddy

Chelsea Janes

@chelseajanes.bsky.social

Mets are sending Freddy Peralta to the Rays, according to multiple people with knowledge of the deal. @WillSammon first

134h ago

Quoting this

stim possible13

great trade, who’d we get

MLB

@mlbbot.bsky.social

Rays reportedly acquire RHP Freddy Peralta from the Mets, per multiple reports including MLB's @Feinsand. (MLB x @CohnReznick)

ON THE MOVE
Freddy Peralta, Tampa Bay Rays
Pictured: Freddy Peralta throws a pitch wearing a black Mets jersey and a black cap.

54h ago

Casey Drottar

@caseydrottar.bsky.social

The Rays feel like a perfect destination for Freddy Peralta. Doesn't need to be *the* guy in a rotation pitching as well as Tampa's this season, feels like an ease of pressure might do wonders for him.

84h ago

Sam Dykstra

@samdykstramilb.bsky.social

Thoughts on Freddy Peralta return: Gap between Aidan Smith’s floor and ceiling is large. Rays loved his defensive improvements in CF, and the raw power is there. But at 21yo, he’s looking at second straight year with a >30 K% at High-A. A project for the Mets.

73h ago

Jonathan B.

@goblintenebre.bsky.social

Sounds like a bucket of baseballs for Peralta. Godspeed, Freddy. Hopefully Tampa Bay takes the pressure off. #LGM #MetsSky

54h ago

MLB Daily News

@insidemlbnews.bsky.social

Freddy Peralta to be traded to the Rays, per Will Sammon.

64h ago

TSN

@tsnofficial.bsky.social

The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired 2x All-Star pitcher Freddy Peralta in exchange for three prospects per Mark Feinsand! 😲⭐

64h ago

Seattle Sports

@seattlesports710.bsky.social

Former Seattle U standout Tarik Skubal is heading to the Dodgers and right-hander Freddy Peralta is joining the Rays in two of the biggest moves thus far ahead of Monday's MLB trade deadline. sports.mynorthwest.com/mlb/seattle-...

62h ago

Amazin' Avenue

@amazinavenue.bsky.social

Want to know more about the three prospects the Mets acquired for Freddy Peralta? We have you covered.

63h ago

Willie Lopez

@willielopezshow.bsky.social

I will continue to root for "5-inning Freddy" as he is now a member of my hometown & favorite A.L. team! Hopefully Rays phenomenal pitching coach Kyle Snyder can work his magic as he has with so many others. Ironically, the Mets are in Tampa on 8/31, 9/1 & 9/2 & may get to face him! #MetsSky #RaysUp