Rival Front Offices See Path To Fixing Mets' Freddy Peralta

[Steve Drumwright]

 

While the New York Mets can't get rid of Freddy Peralta fast enough, other teams see the right-handed starter as someone who can be fixed before the postseason.

At least that is the opinion of several executives who spoke with The Athletic's Will Sammon.

From Sammon's piece, which was published Wednesday:

"Multiple evaluators who scouted Peralta’s most recent outings reported no questions about his stuff or health. Execution and controlling counts, however, are problems. Compared to his previous seasons, Peralta is losing early count leverage more often, and it’s hurting him.

"Whether it’s arrogance, desperation, a commentary on modern pitching or a combination of all three, high-ranking officials from multiple teams see Peralta as a puzzle they can solve with usage changes or pitch shape adjustments."

Others feel it might not be quite so simple to correct the problems afflicting Peralta, who has a 4.47 FIP (4.99 ERA) and posting a 3.64 FIP (2.70 ERA) last year with the Milwaukee Brewers.

"Beyond that, though, as the same evaluator put it, 'the metrics are the metrics.' And some of those metrics are not great. Peralta’s extension is down nearly half a foot, which is not something, generally speaking, that is easily fixable during a season. Peralta’s average velocity on his four-seam fastball is also down from 94.8 mph last year to 94.2 mph. Evaluators said Peralta can change some movements for, perhaps, modest improvements. But it’s tough to draw up a clear path toward regaining his fastball."

Peralta is still a highly sought-after pitcher, although his performance with the Mets has brought on some questions that could linger into his free agency.

 

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