Mets trade Freddy Peralta to Rays for three prospects

sportsAug 2, 202621237

The New York Mets traded right-handed starter Freddy Peralta to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday for outfielder Aidan Smith, second baseman Émilien Pitre and right-hander Gary Gill Hill. The Rays, whose rotation entered the day third in the American League in ERA, are betting on Peralta’s multi-year track record even as he has endured one of his toughest stretches over the past two months. Peralta’s arm slot has dropped to a career low, his fastball usage has fallen from about 80 percent early in his career to just over 50 percent now, and his strikeout and whiff rates have slipped to career-worst marks, so he is unlikely to be a Game 1 starter for Tampa Bay. From 2023 to 2025 Peralta ranked among the top 25 starters in innings pitched, ERA and WAR, and the Rays see postseason value in him despite recent inconsistency. The Mets received a diverse trio of prospects rather than a single high-ceiling return. Émilien Pitre, a second-round pick from Quebec out of the University of Kentucky, has posted strong batted-ball metrics and nearly a two-to-one walk-to-strikeout ratio between High A and Double A and projects as a possible everyday second baseman. Gary Gill Hill, a sixth-round pick from Kennedy Catholic, shows an extended repertoire and an effective sweeper against righties but struggles with left-handed hitters who have an OPS north of .900 against him, while Aidan Smith, a fourth-round high school pick from Texas and the group’s early-season highest-ranked prospect, offers power but has struck out in more than 30 percent of his plate appearances the last two seasons.

Jon Heyman

@jonheyman.bsky.social

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

6845d ago

Itgetzbybuckner1

Good. he was an utter disappointment.

Quoting this

Molly Knight55

Are the brewers awake Are they alive

inthefade12

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.

2945d 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

Keith Law

@keithlaw.bsky.social

on the Rays buying low on Freddy Peralta and a surprisingly robust return for the Mets: www.nytimes.com/athletic/748...

1845d ago

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

1245d ago

Roger Cormier6

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

Quoting this

JR Radcliffe17

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 Malinowski6

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

Dan Lewis

@dandotlewis.bsky.social

Marcus Semien: 3.2 bWAR to -0.7 Bo Bichette: 3.4 to 0.1 Jorge Polanco: 2.5 to -1.2 Luis Robert: 1.4 to 0.0 Freddy Peralta: 5.5 to -1.2 (!!) Tobias Myers: 0.6 to -0.8 That's 16.6 bWAR to -3.8. A swing of 20.4. What a terrible team.

1145d ago

Chelsea Janes

@chelseajanes.bsky.social

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

1345d ago

Quoting this

stim possible13

great trade, who’d we get

Michael Baumann

@baumann.bsky.social

The Rays got their rental starter, even if it's not the big one. I think this is a good organizational fit for Peralta, even if he won't be there long. And I like Émilien Pitre a lot, which is incidental at best to the question of whether he's a good prospect

1245d ago

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.

545d 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.

845d ago

Amazin' Avenue

@amazinavenue.bsky.social

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

745d 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.

745d 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

545d 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-...

745d 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

645d ago

MLB Daily News

@insidemlbnews.bsky.social

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

645d ago

3 sources

espn.comSources: Rays acquire Freddy Peralta in trade with Mets nytimes.comMets trade starter Freddy Peralta to Rays for trio of prospects: Sources (Gift Article)yardbarker.comRays strike big with trade for Mets' Freddy Peralta

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Mets trade Freddy Peralta to Rays for three prospects

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