Mets Ace Freddy Peralta Predicted to Test Free Agency After One Season in New York

The two-time All-Star is expected to command a nine-figure contract this offseason.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 5:54pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a baseball pitcher's delivery broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in navy, green, and orange, conveying the complex challenges the Mets face in retaining their new ace.The potential loss of star pitcher Freddy Peralta could leave a gaping hole in the Mets' rotation as the team looks to build on its strong start to the 2026 season.NYC Today

According to a Bleacher Report prediction, the New York Mets are likely to lose their newly acquired ace Freddy Peralta to free agency after just one season with the team. Peralta, a two-time All-Star, is projected to receive a five-year, $131 million contract this offseason, which the Mets were unable to match during spring training contract negotiations.

Why it matters

Peralta's potential departure would be a major blow to the Mets, who traded top prospects to acquire him from the Milwaukee Brewers this past offseason. The Mets are off to a strong 7-4 start in 2026, and keeping Peralta would have been crucial to their playoff aspirations.

The details

In five seasons with the Brewers, Peralta posted a 3.30 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 895 strikeouts in 738.1 innings. He made the All-Star team twice and is one of only two pitchers to record at least 200 strikeouts in each of the last three seasons. The Mets were unable to sign him to an extension during spring training, and now he is poised to test the free agent market where he is expected to command a deal similar to the seven-year, $175 million contract signed by Dylan Cease last offseason.

  • Peralta is in the final year of his contract, set to make $8 million in 2026.
  • The Mets acquired Peralta from the Brewers this past offseason.

The players

Freddy Peralta

A two-time All-Star pitcher who was recently acquired by the New York Mets from the Milwaukee Brewers.

Dylan Cease

A pitcher who signed a seven-year, $175 million contract last offseason, which could set the floor for Peralta's next deal.

Joel Reuter

A writer for Bleacher Report who predicted that Peralta will leave the Mets after one season and test free agency.

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What they’re saying

“In five full seasons as a member of the Brewers rotation, Freddy Peralta logged a 3.30 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 895 strikeouts in 738.1 innings while earning a pair of All-Star selections. He is one of only two pitchers to record at least 200 strikeouts in each of the last three seasons. The other, Dylan Cease, signed a seven-year, $175 million deal last winter and that could be the floor in Peralta negotiations this winter.”

— Joel Reuter, Bleacher Report Writer

What’s next

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The takeaway

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