At a Glance
- The New York Mets acquired Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers from Milwaukee
- Milwaukee received top prospect Brandon Sproat and minor-leaguer Jett Williams
- Peralta, a two-time All-Star, went 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA last season
- Why it matters: The move shores up a Mets rotation that collapsed in the second half of the 2025 campaign
The New York Mets struck a late-night trade with the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, landing right-handers Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers in exchange for pitching prospect Brandon Sproat and minor-league utilityman Jett Williams.
The deal, announced by the club at 10:08 p.m. ET via social media, gives New York the frontline starter it has sought since its rotation unraveled down the stretch of a disappointing 2025 season. Peralta, 29, is coming off his second career All-Star nod and led the National League with 17 wins while posting a 2.70 ERA.
Mets Fast-Track Rebuild
Hours earlier, the Mets had formally introduced marquee free-agent addition Bo Bichette at Citi Field. One night before that, they pried talented center fielder Luis Robert Jr. from the Chicago White Sox. The flurry of transactions signals an accelerated push to contend in 2026 after a 79-83 finish last year.
Peralta’s arrival addresses the rotation’s most glaring weakness. New York’s starters compiled a 4.92 ERA after the All-Star break, the second-worst mark in the NL. The right-hander’s ability to miss bats-he struck out 207 hitters in 192 innings last season-should slot in behind two-time Cy Young winner Kodai Senga and give manager Carlos Mendoza a legitimate one-two punch.
Contract Terms and Track Record
Peralta is set to earn $8 million in 2026, the final season of a club-friendly extension signed when David Stearns still ran Milwaukee’s front office. The pitcher can become a free agent following the World Series, making him a short-term but high-impact acquisition.
His 2025 campaign included:
- 17 wins (NL-best)
- 2.70 ERA (fourth among NL qualifiers)
- 207 strikeouts over 192 innings
- Fifth place in NL Cy Young voting
The 6-foot righty also finished in the 92nd percentile for whiff rate and held opponents to a .189 batting average, according to Baseball Savant. His slider and high-velocity fastball have long tormented National League hitters; he owns a career 3.22 ERA across seven seasons.
Myers Adds Rotation Depth
While Peralta headlines the package, Myers gives the Mets an affordable back-end option who still carries upside. The 27-year-old went 9-6 with a 3.00 ERA as a rookie in 2024 before slumping to 1-2 with a 3.55 ERA in 22 games (seven starts) last year.
Myers features a mid-90s sinker and a swing-and-miss slider. He logged a 28.7 percent strikeout rate in 2024 but saw that figure dip to 22.1 percent during an injury-interrupted 2025. The North Carolina native has one minor-league option remaining, giving the club flexibility to shuttle him between Queens and Triple-A Syracuse if needed.
Brewers Reload Farm System
Milwaukee’s return centers on Brandon Sproat, a 24-year-old right-hander whom Baseball America ranks as the Mets’ No. 2 prospect. Sproat posted a 2.75 ERA with 136 strikeouts in 121 1/3 innings split between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse last season. His fastball touches 99 mph and pairs with a sharp slider and developing changeup.
Jett Williams, 20, adds athleticism to the Brewers’ system. The 2022 first-round pick slashed .249/.397/.392 with 30 steals and 70 walks across High-A and Double-A in 2025. He has played mostly shortstop and center field, projecting as a potential super-utility talent once he reaches the majors.
Milwaukee has now traded three veteran starters within the past calendar year, having previously sent Corbin Burnes to Baltimore and Adrian Houser to the Yankees. The moves align with a retool around young position players such as Jackson Chourio, Joey Ortiz and Brice Turang.
Stearns Reunites With Former Asset
The transaction carries an extra layer of intrigue because Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns originally signed Peralta to his current contract while running the Brewers. Stearns served as Milwaukee’s top executive from 2015-23 and acquired Peralta from Seattle as a minor leaguer in December 2015.
Since taking over in Queens, Stearns has mined his old organization for contributors, also trading for infielder Joey Wendle and reliever Elvis Peguero last winter. Wednesday’s swap continues that trend, importing a pitcher who thrived under his watch in the Midwest and who now hopes to do the same under the brighter lights of New York.
Roster Ripple Effects
Peralta’s insertion bumps veteran lefty José Quintana into the fourth spot and right-hander Luis Severino into the fifth. Prospects Christian Scott and Mike Vasil, both of whom debuted in 2025, will likely open the year in Syracuse awaiting opportunities created by injuries or under-performance.
Myers could break camp as the long reliever/sixth starter, a role that proved valuable last season when injuries sidelined Senga and Kodai Matsuda for extended stretches. His ability to provide multiple innings would lessen the burden on a bullpen that posted a 4.21 ERA, 11th in the NL.
Payroll Considerations
Even after absorbing Peralta’s $8 million salary, the Mets’ Competitive Balance Tax payroll projects around $312 million, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts. That figure sits roughly $22 million beyond the fourth and final luxury-tax tier, meaning owner Steve Cohen will pay a 110 percent surcharge on every additional dollar spent.
Cohen has shown a willingness to exceed the threshold in pursuit of a championship, but the franchise is mindful of the escalating penalties. Any further additions-say, a high-leverage reliever or a right-handed bench bat-would need to fit within those financial constraints or involve corresponding salary dumps.
What Comes Next
With Bichette installed at shortstop, Robert patrolling center and Peralta atop the rotation, the Mets believe their core is now strong enough to challenge the heavily favored Atlanta Braves and reigning-champion Philadelphia Phillies in a stacked NL East.
Spring training opens in 45 days in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report on February 12, with the club’s first Grapefruit League game set for February 22 against the Houston Astros at Clover Park.
Key Takeaways
- The Mets landed an elite starter without surrendering major-league talent
- Peralta’s contract expires after 2026, keeping the acquisition low-risk
- Milwaukee restocks its farm system with a potential frontline starter in Sproat
- New York’s offseason outlay signals a win-now mindset under Cohen and Stearns
