Predicting Mets’ biggest move before MLB trade deadline

Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

Predicting Mets’ biggest move before MLB trade deadline

Originally posted on MLB on ClutchPoints | Last updated Jul 14, 2026 6:48 PM ET

The New York Mets are heading into the MLB trade deadline as one of the premier sellers in the National League. They enter the All-Star Break at 40-57, second-to-last in the NL Wild Card race. Their season is likely over, which leads to a lot of trade proposals. While bigger names are in the rumor mill, the biggest move the Mets will make at the trade deadline is dealing Freddy Peralta.

The Mets traded for Freddy Peralta from the Milwaukee Brewers in the offseason, seemingly solving their top-end pitching problem. They sent two of their top prospects west for the pitcher, parting with Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat. But David Stearns did not immediately extend his new ace, which may work out for him now.

Since joining the Mets, Peralta has been a disappointment. In 20 starts this year, he has a 4.66 ERA and has only completed seven innings once. A ten-run blowup against the Philadelphia Phillies in June is destroying those numbers, but there aren’t many great starts either. The Mets can admit their mistake and recoup some prospect capital at the trade deadline.

The Mets will not get back the same package they paid for Peralta in the winter. But replacing just one of Sproat or Williams would be a huge win. They also picked up Tobias Myers in the trade, so targeting an infield prospect in this trade would be a strong move.

The biggest problem with this is that the Mets need to find a trade suitor. Peralta has not been good enough for a true contender to pay up for him, but a middling team won’t trade for him without a contract in place. Who should the Mets call for a Peralta trade before the August 3 trade deadline?

The Mets must trade Freddy Peralta before the deadline

Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

The Mets could trade any number of players before the August 3 deadline. Outside of Juan Soto, they should listen on everyone, and that includes Francisco Lindor. While they may not trade their shortstop or any other key players, they have to find a suitor for Peralta.

The alternative to trading Peralta is signing him to a long-term extension. And after his dreadful start to this season and the number of issues New York has to fix, would signing Peralta be the best use of money? And with the MLB landscape potentially changing this winter, they can’t commit that much money to a fledgling starter.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees are not going to pay up for a poor starter. They have great pitchers, have eyes on other needs at the deadline, and could land Tarik Skubal if they wanted to. The Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners are in an AL West pillow fight, but they have pitching and need hitting. And the Chicago Cubs already got a Mets pitcher in David Peterson.

That leaves very few viable options for Peralta before the deadline. But the best fit is the San Diego Padres, who need to replace Dylan Cease in the rotation to save their season. With the Dodgers running away with their division, their only chance at making the playoffs is through the Wild Card. They enter the All-Star Break 3.5 games out of the final spot.

The Padres are known for making big swings, and they gave up a lot to land Mason Miller at last year’s trade deadline. Shortstop Jorge Quintana would be a great piece for the Mets to get back from San Diego. They need a reset after a miserable first half, and trading Peralta is the natural first step.

Who else could the Mets trade before August 3?

This article first appeared on MLB on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

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