Brewers are opening trade talks for ace Freddy Peralta. With his contract ending, a star pitcher could be on the move this offseason.
It appears that the Milwaukee Brewers might be open to trading away star pitcher Freddy Peralta this offseason.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Brewers are considering “cracking the door open” on trade discussions surrounding the two-time All-Star. This isn’t a total shock, considering Peralta is in the final year of his deal.
With Peralta set to become a free agent next offseason, there’s a strong chance that the right-hander will leave the Brewers after the 2026 season. Milwaukee simply doesn’t have the money to pay a pitcher of this caliber.
If the Brewers feel like they could get a solid return for an elite pitcher who is in the final year of his deal, they will do it. This is something that isn’t new from the Milwaukee organization, either.
The front office has traded away star pitchers Corbin Burnes and Josh Hader before they entered free agency. Burnes was traded for Joey Ortiz, DL Hall, and a 2024 draft pick before the 2024 season, and Hader was dealt away for Taylor Rogers, Dinelson Lamet, Robert Gasser, and Esteury Ruiz at the 2022 Trade Deadline.
Given that the Brewers are at least willing to listen to offers on Peralta, that signals a trade could eventually happen this offseason. He is only due $8 million for the upcoming season, which is extremely cheap for the 2025 All-Star pitcher.
However, Cubs fans don’t get too excited. Even if the Brewers do wind up trading Peralta this winter, it will not be to the North Siders.
There is no way Milwaukee would help the Cubs in any way. Peralta would give Chicago a better chance at winning the National League Central, and the Brewers would have to face the right-hander a handful of times throughout the 2026 season.
Just like the Dallas Cowboys wouldn’t trade Micah Parsons to a division rival in the Philadelphia Eagles last NFL offseason, the Brewers will not trade Peralta to a division rival in the Cubs.
The last time these two teams made a trade together was in December of 2016, when the Cubs acquired reliever Caleb Smith from the Brewers. Smith was Milwaukee’s selection in the Rule 5 Draft, but he was soon designated for assignment by the North Siders in early 2017.
Considering that’s the only trade these two teams have made over the last decade, Peralta is not going to be a Cub next season. The Brewers would never trade him to a division rival.