Padres reportedly enter Freddy Peralta sweepstakes

The San Diego Padres' push to improve their roster while limiting costs reportedly has a new target.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Padres have checked in about the availability of Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Freddy Peralta. The Padres join a growing list of teams, including their division rivals Dodgers and Giants, to show interest in Peralta.

Peralta had an impressive season as the Brewers ace in 2025. He posted a 2.70 ERA and a 1.075 WHIP over his 176.2 innings, striking out 204 batters with 66 walks. Peralta has been durable as well, making at least 30 starts in each of the last three years; his 516 innings is the 15th-most in the majors in that time frame.

Padres rotation question marks make Freddy Peralta enticing trade target

While Peralta is an enticing target due to his production and durability, his contract makes him a viable option for any team with playoff aspirations. He is due to receive $8 million this season, a bargain for a player of his caliber.

The Padres rotation is filled with question marks. Nick Pivetta has pitched over 140 innings in each of the last five seasons, but he needs to prove that his career year in 2025 was not a fluke. Michael King and Joe Musgrove have battled injuries. The back of the rotation is unsettled with the likes of Randy Vasquez, Matt Waldron and Kyle Hart vying for a berth.

Chances are, Peralta would not be a long-term solution in San Diego. He is slated to reach free agency after this season and is likely to command an impressive salary. However, adding Peralta would give the Padres another top-of-the-rotation arm for a team in need of pitching depth. The Padres would also keep him from going to the Dodgers or Giants, something that may be equally important in their pursuit.