Will Freddy Peralta sign a multiyear deal with the Mets or test free agency? Chatter begins as off-season trade rumors hit

The New York Mets got a huge boost to their rotation last week by acquiring an All-Star right-hander pitcher, Freddy Peralta, of the Milwaukee Brewers. While Peralta wants time to settle in and be with his new team, he hasn't ruled out a multiyear contract before reaching free agency after the 2026 season. The 29-year-old became an official part of the Mets on January 21 in a deal that moved Brandon Sproat and top prospect Jett Williams to the Milwaukee Brewers, along with right-hander Tobias Myers joining the New York. The January 21 trade also reunited Peralta with the president of baseball operations for the New York Yankees, David Stearns, who acquired him for the Brewers in December 2015 when he was just 19. "I knew that something was going to happen and it was a little hard at the same time, because I spent my whole career in Milwaukee and there's a lot of great memories over there," Peralta said. "But this is a business, and anything can happen. I was prepared for the moment. And being honest, I'm really happy to be here in New York and be a member of the Mets organization." Peralta, who for his part will collect $8 million this season, acknowledged the offseason trade chatter but said he had a hunch about the Mets' move. "I was trying not to, but it was all that everyone was talking about around me," he said.Peralta's arrival comes to the Mets as they need a much-needed starter at the front of the rotation after a busy offseason that saw the team sever ties with Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, Brandon Nimmo, and closer Edwin Diaz. Last season, New York's rotation struggled down the stretch despite holding the best record in the majors through June 12, and failed to make the playoffs."I think that's the No. 1 important thing for me -- to be healthy, to be ready every five days to take the ball and go and pitch and be there for the team," Peralta said. "That's what I have on my mind all the time -- get the necessary work with the trainers in the weight room, mentally with the pitching coaches, just to protect myself and try to be there every five days. Because I know when you have 30 starts, ideally 30-plus starts, something good is going to be on the line," he added.Peralta had a stellar season in 2025, making the NL All-Star team, coming in 5th place in the Cy Young Award voting, and leading the league with 17 wins. He posted a career-best 2.70 in 176⅔ innings in 33 starts. He struck out 204 batters, just six short from registering his career-high. Alongside Dylan Cease, he is the only pitcher in MLB to make at least 30 starts and have at least 200 strikeouts in the last three seasons.