Mets trade Freddy Peralta to American League-best Tampa Bay Rays

[p]As part of the trade, the Mets are receiving Aidan Smith (OF), Emilien Pitre (2B), and Gary Gill Hill (SP).[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/peralta-freddy/CO668wh7/"]Peralta[/a], 30, is having the worst season of his career. He's tossing a 4.99 ERA through 22 starts with a 5-9 record after coming off a career year with the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/milwaukee-brewers/CGzqC60o/"]Milwaukee Brewers[/a].[/p][p]In 2024, Peralta led the National League with 17 wins and finished the season with a career-best 2.70 ERA in 33 starts.[/p][embed guid="c54d4cd0-fc9d-4f3c-aae4-db2633402918" url="https://x.com/WillSammon/status/2083973418110599224?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Opposing batters are hitting .264 off Peralta this season, who hadn't allowed a higher opponent BA than .224 since being converted into a starter in 2021.[/p][p]Following his final start with the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-york-mets/I5wWW4UM/"]Mets[/a] on July 26th, in which he gave up two earned runs off six hits through four innings against the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-dodgers/nwPDBpVc/"]Los Angeles Dodgers[/a], Peralta stated that he knows[b] "it probably is"[/b] his final game with the club. [/p][embed guid="36c23d98-6804-469f-aabf-815719b861e2" url="https://x.com/SNY_Mets/status/2081490112781701587?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Up until this season, Peralta had been one of the most consistent starting pitchers in the NL. From 2021 to 2025, Peralta had finished each season with an ERA below 3.90, including three straight years (2023-2025) with at least 200 strikeouts in each. [/p][p]The vet finished fifth in NL Cy Young voting last season after earning his second All-Star selection. After spending the first eight years of his career with the Brewers and half a season as a Met, Peralta now heads to the Rays, who hold the best record in the American League (65-45). [/p][h2]Mets' return[/h2][p]Smith, 22, is the Rays' No. 15 prospect. This season, he's hitting .209 with a .672 OPS, 10 home runs, 40 RBI, and 16 stolen bases in 59 minor league games (49 in High-A). [/p][p]Pitre, 23, the Rays' No. 27 prospect, is having a stellar season in the minors after being called up to Double-A, slashing .308/.438/.447 with five home runs and 46 RBI. His 32 stolen bases this season in 88 minor league games (51 in High-A, 37 in Double-A) are a new career high for him.[/p][p]Hill, 21, is having a rough go on the mound in the minors as the Rays' No. 26 prospect. He's tossing a combined 4.49 ERA through 20 starts in High-A and Double-A ball this season, giving up 127 hits and 23 walks in 108.1 innings with 87 strikeouts. [/p]