As the MLB trade deadline approaches on Monday, the New York Mets continue navigating a season that has shifted firmly toward selling mode. One of the clearest signals came Friday when interim manager Andy Green confirmed that right-hander Freddy Peralta had been scratched from his scheduled start against the Miami Marlins.
The decision stemmed directly from escalating conversations with other clubs interested in acquiring the veteran starter.
“I think as talks have intensified — I won’t get into characterizing where they are at this point in time — it just became a prudent path for us,” Green told reporters.
The manager declined to elaborate further on the status of those discussions, leaving open the possibility that a deal could still take days to materialize even as negotiations gain momentum.
Peralta, acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in the offseason, arrived in Queens with high expectations after posting a 2.70 ERA and finishing among the National League Cy Young leaders the previous year. His first season with the Mets has unfolded differently.
Through more than 20 starts he has carried a 4.99 ERA, a mark that reflects both inconsistent command and the broader struggles of a Mets club that has fallen out of contention. Despite the downturn, evaluators across the league still view him as a potential playoff contributor. One scout recently described him as capable of starting a postseason game for several contending teams, ranking him among the stronger available arms on the market.
Interest has come from multiple directions. The Chicago Cubs, seeking rotation depth, have been linked to Peralta in recent days, with reports indicating the Mets are seeking a package that includes a top-100 prospect plus additional talent.
Other clubs, including the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Rays, and even his former team in Milwaukee, have checked in at various points. The decision to hold Peralta out of Friday’s game preserves his value and protects against the risk of injury at a moment when his next start could come in a different uniform.
For the Mets, the calculus is straightforward. With Peralta set to reach free agency after the season, retaining him through the final weeks offers little long-term upside. Trading him allows the organization to begin restocking a farm system that has been depleted by earlier moves.
Front-office sources have indicated that New York remains firm on its asking price, unwilling to settle for secondary pieces when higher-upside talent may still be attainable.
Green’s measured comments underscored the delicate balance the Mets are trying to strike. Pitching Peralta on Friday would have burned a valuable start and introduced unnecessary risk. Scratching him keeps options open without committing to an immediate transaction.
Whether a deal closes before Monday’s 6 p.m. deadline or the talks stretch to the final hours, the manager’s words made clear that serious discussions are under way and that Peralta’s time in a Mets uniform may be nearing its end.
The coming days will reveal which club is willing to meet New York’s demands and whether Peralta can rediscover the form that once made him one of the more reliable starters in the National League.
For now, the Mets have chosen caution, and Green’s acknowledgment of intensifying talks has only heightened the sense that a significant move is on the horizon.
