Mets' Biggest Trade Asset Starting Against Top Suitor?

The New York Mets are open for business for the Aug. 3 trade deadline after a disastrous first half and have made almost everyone on the roster available, especially if they are on expiring contracts or veteran players.

Aside from its young outfield trio of left fielder Juan Soto, center fielder A.J. Ewing and right fielder Carson Benge, as well as right-handed starter Nolan McLean, the Mets will field calls on everyone else. Shortstop Francisco Lindor was left off the untouchables list, but it’s unlikely he is moved at this year’s deadline.

That leaves a lot of players available, including Monday’s starting pitcher against the Milwaukee Brewers, right-hander Freddy Peralta. Peralta was named the biggest trade chip by MLB.com and is likely to have a lot of interest from contenders seeking a quality starting pitcher.

“Despite his struggles and despite the fact that he can become a free agent after this season, Peralta can still probably fetch as much as any tradeable player on the Mets’ roster,” MLB.com wrote Thursday.

“He has the pedigree of a two-time All-Star and is less than one year removed from finishing second in NL Cy Young Award voting. Given how much starting pitching is in demand around the league, the Mets would do well to explore Peralta’s market.”

Although Peralta hasn’t been great this season, posting a 5-8 record with a 4.66 ERA and 1.44 WHIP while having a low strikeout rate through 20 starts (104.1 innings), he’s been one of the best pitchers in baseball this decade.

Peralta is going up against the team he spent eight seasons with prior to being traded in the offseason and Milwaukee is reportedly heavily interested in bringing Peralta back.

According to MLB insider Hector Gomez, the Brewers are the top suitor for Peralta with lots of interest from the Atlanta Braves and Tampa Bay Rays as well.

Peralta is having a down year, but he’s been unlucky and the Mets have been one of the worst defensive teams in the league which hasn’t done him any favors. Perhaps a change of scenery, even going back to where it had gone so well in Milwaukee, could bring back the version of Peralta that had him finish as the runner-up for the Cy Young.

New York would love to get some prospects for half of a season from a pitcher it had much higher expectations for, especially if a team is willing to overpay trying to capitalize on a good season.