Mets Secure Ace Freddy Peralta, Myers in Blockbuster Brewers Trade

The New York Mets have significantly bolstered their pitching rotation, acquiring ace right-hander Freddy Peralta and fellow right-hander Tobias Myers from the Milwaukee Brewers in a trade that sent two of their top prospects, pitcher Brandon Sproat and infielder/outfielder Jett Williams, to Milwaukee. The move, announced late Wednesday, January 21, 2026, by Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns, is a critical component of New York’s aggressive offseason strategy to rebound from a deeply disappointing 2025 season and immediately contend for a championship.

Peralta, 29, brings a proven track record as a frontline starter, having led the National League in wins last season with a stellar 17-6 record and a 2.70 ERA across 33 starts. His performance earned him a fifth-place finish in Cy Young Award voting and his second All-Star selection. The acquisition addresses a glaring need for the Mets, whose rotation faltered significantly in the latter half of the previous season. This blockbuster trade follows closely on the heels of other high-profile additions for the Mets, including the formal introduction of free-agent shortstop Bo Bichette and the trade acquisition of talented center fielder Luis Robert Jr. from the Chicago White Sox.

Mets’ Aggressive Offseason Reshaping

The trade for Freddy Peralta marks another bold stroke in David Stearns’ comprehensive overhaul of the Mets’ roster. Stearns, who took the helm of the Mets’ baseball operations, has wasted no time in reshaping a team that saw a ‘mass exodus of established stars’ earlier in the offseason, including Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso, and Edwin Diaz, as reported by amNY. The Mets’ 2025 season was plagued by inconsistent pitching, with key starters like Sean Manaea battling an oblique injury, Kodai Senga’s season derailed by a hamstring issue after a dominant start, and David Peterson struggling to find consistency after an All-Star first half.

Just hours before the Peralta deal was finalized, Stearns had publicly reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the team’s starting rotation. The acquisition of Peralta, combined with the earlier signing of Bo Bichette to play third base and the trade for Gold Glove-potential center fielder Luis Robert Jr., signals a clear intent to return to competitiveness. Manager Carlos Mendoza expressed confidence in the team’s direction, stating, “I feel good with where we’re at,” during Bichette’s introductory press conference, even before the Peralta trade was announced, as noted by amNY. The Mets are banking on these significant additions to transform their fortunes and view last year’s struggles as an anomaly.

Peralta’s Impact and Pedigree

Freddy Peralta joins the Mets bringing elite performance metrics and a history of durability. In 2025, he struck out 204 batters in 176 2/3 innings, demonstrating his ability to dominate opposing lineups. His advanced statistics further underscore his effectiveness, with a hard-hit ball rate of only 34.5 percent, ranking him in MLB’s 90th percentile, and a strikeout rate of 28.2 percent, placing him in the 84th percentile, according to the New York Post. Over his eight major league seasons, all with Milwaukee, Peralta has accumulated a career record of 70-42 with a 3.59 ERA and 1,153 strikeouts in 931 innings.

Peralta’s consistency is also notable; he ranks second in the majors with 40 wins since 2023 and is one of only two pitchers, alongside Dylan Cease, to record at least 200 strikeouts in each of the past three years. Crucially for the Mets, he has maintained a relatively clean bill of health since 2022, when he was sidelined by a lat strain and elbow inflammation. He is set to earn $8 million this season and will become a free agent after the World Series, making him a high-impact rental for the Mets’ immediate contention window. The Mets also acquired Tobias Myers, a 27-year-old right-hander who demonstrated versatility in 2024 and 2025, pitching effectively out of both the rotation and the bullpen. Stearns praised Myers’ ability to contribute in multiple ways, citing his 9-6 record with a 3.00 ERA in 2024 and his 1-2 record with a 3.55 ERA in 2025 for the division-winning Brewers, as reported by ABC News.

Brewers’ Strategic Rebuild and Prospect Haul

For the Milwaukee Brewers, the trade of Freddy Peralta represents the continuation of a strategic pattern to maximize returns for star players nearing free agency. This is the third consecutive offseason in which the cost-conscious Brewers have traded a front-line pitcher in the final year of their contract. Two years prior, they dealt 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes to Baltimore, and last winter, two-time All-Star reliever Devin Williams was sent to the New York Yankees, as detailed by ABC News. Brewers President of Baseball Operations Matt Arnold described these decisions as ‘always tough,’ acknowledging an ’emotional call’ with Peralta.

In exchange, Milwaukee received two highly-regarded prospects: pitcher Brandon Sproat and minor league infielder/outfielder Jett Williams. Both were rated among the game’s top 100 prospects by Baseball America. Sproat, 25, made his major league debut with the Mets in September 2025, posting a 0-2 record with a 4.79 ERA in four starts. He was rated the fifth-best prospect in New York’s system by MLB.com and is considered the Brewers’ No. 1 overall pitching prospect by amNY. Arnold lauded Sproat’s ‘incredible stuff’ and ‘very high octane’ pitches, indicating he will compete for a spot in Milwaukee’s rotation immediately. Williams, 22, drafted 14th overall by the Mets in 2022, batted .261 with 17 homers, 34 doubles, and 52 RBIs across Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse last year. He was the Mets’ third-rated prospect according to MLB.com and is seen as the Brewers’ No. 3 overall prospect by amNY. Arnold praised Williams as a ‘gamer’ with ‘incredible tools’ and versatility, highlighting his speed and heart. Despite Peralta’s departure, the Brewers remain confident in their pitching depth, bringing back two-time All-Star Brandon Woodruff and featuring rising star Jacob Misiorowski, who was an All-Star as a rookie in 2025.

Stearns’ Familiarity and Future Outlook

The trade also highlights the deep connections within major league baseball’s front offices. David Stearns’ history with Freddy Peralta dates back to his tenure running Milwaukee’s front office from 2015-23, where he initially acquired Peralta for the Brewers in a 2015 trade with the Seattle Mariners. This familiarity undoubtedly played a role in the Mets’ pursuit of the right-hander, with Stearns stating, “Acquiring Freddy adds another established starter to help lead our rotation.” Brewers President Matt Arnold also noted his long-standing friendship with Stearns, commenting on their close working relationship and personal ties, including attending Stearns’ wedding, as reported by ABC News. The Mets’ rotation now features a blend of established talent and promising prospects, including Peralta, Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes (who transitioned to a middle-of-the-rotation role), David Peterson, Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga, and young arms like Christian Scott and Jonah Tong.

This trade underscores a distinct strategic approach by both franchises. The New York Mets, under David Stearns, are aggressively prioritizing immediate contention by leveraging significant prospect capital for established, high-impact talent like Freddy Peralta, aiming to quickly reverse their recent struggles. Conversely, the Milwaukee Brewers continue their long-standing strategy of maximizing value from impending free agents to replenish their highly-regarded farm system, betting on their ability to develop future stars and maintain competitiveness through cost control. This divergence sets up a compelling dynamic, with the Mets making a clear statement of intent for the upcoming season, while the Brewers continue to build for sustained, long-term success through player development.