Mets Unlikely to Meet Freddy Peralta's Extension Demands

The Mets' ace has high contract expectations that may not align with the team's conservative approach to starting pitching.

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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The New York Mets are set to have Freddy Peralta as their opening day starter, but the team may struggle to extend the pitcher beyond this season. Peralta is seeking a long-term deal of 7-8 years, which is more than the Mets have typically offered starting pitchers under their current leadership. While the two sides have expressed a desire to reach an agreement, the gap between Peralta's demands and the Mets' conservative contract approach makes it unlikely they will meet in the middle on an extension before Peralta hits free agency.

Why it matters

Peralta is a key part of the Mets' rotation, and losing him after this season would be a significant blow. However, the Mets have been cautious about committing long-term deals to starting pitchers, making it difficult to reach an agreement that satisfies both Peralta's contract desires and the team's financial constraints.

The details

Peralta is only under team control through the 2023 season, and both sides have said they want to reach an extension. However, Peralta is reportedly seeking a 7-8 year deal, which would be unprecedented for the Mets under their current leadership. The team's longest free agent contract for a starting pitcher has been 3 years, making it unlikely they will meet Peralta's high demands.

  • Peralta is set to be the Mets' opening day starter on March 26, 2023.
  • Peralta's current contract expires at the end of the 2023 season.

The players

Freddy Peralta

The Mets' ace pitcher who is seeking a long-term extension.

David Stearns

The Mets' conservative approach to starting pitching contracts under their current leadership.

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What they’re saying

“Peralta has said he would like to sign for seven or eight years. No pitcher has ever signed an eight-year extension (as far as I can tell). ... Most franchises would shy away from that length of commitment, to say nothing of the Mets' relatively conservative approach to starting pitching under Stearns: The three-year deals for Sean Manaea and Clay Holmes are as long as Stearns has gone for a starter in free agency.”

— Tim Britton, Writer (The Athletic)

What’s next

The Mets will have to decide whether to meet Peralta's contract demands or risk losing him to free agency at the end of the 2023 season.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the tension between a player's contract expectations and a team's financial constraints, especially when it comes to long-term commitments for starting pitchers. The Mets will have to weigh the value of keeping Peralta against the risk of overpaying for a pitcher, which could impact their ability to build a competitive roster in the future.