Mets' Freddy Peralta gets $218 million contract update
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Mets' Freddy Peralta gets $218 million contract update originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Mets traded for Freddy Peralta from the Milwaukee Brewers to get an ace and put their team right in the thick of the pennant race.
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It hasn't worked out like that for them so far, and Peralta not only is in his contract year, but he's become a potential trade deadline candidate.
There's still time for the Mets to find a groove and keep Peralta, but either way, his contract is up at the end of this season.
Peralta won't come cheap, whether that's to the Mets to keep him around or for another team that may pick up Peralta at the deadline -- or in free agency if no one can get him signed to an extension before then.
USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported this in a new article on Sunday about the $218 million hope that Peralta currently has:
"If a team acquires New York Mets ace Freddy Peralta at the trade deadline and wants to keep him, they better be ready to pay up. Peralta will be seeking a free agent contract similar to Max Fried’s eight-year, $218 million deal, according to those familiar with Peralta’s expectations."
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Peralta has a 3.63 ERA so far this season, and his underlying metrics are actually a bit worse than that, so he isn't totally solidifying himself as deserving of that big a contract.
By the same token, Peralta has now proven himself over multiple seasons, and the rest of MLB will certainly recognize that he hasn't operated in ideal conditions so far this season.
The best thing Peralta can do for himself is go on a dominant run through the summer. That's also the best thing he can do for the Mets.
And when the end of the season arrives, someone is going to pay Peralta a lot of money. Whether or not it's $218 million remains to be seen, but he'll be potentially the best pitcher on the market not named Tarik Skubal, which means that for one well-off team, he could end up as a pricy consolation prize.