BREAKING: Mets Trade Freddy Peralta To Rays

[Steve Drumwright]

Image courtesy of Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The New York Mets have officially moved on from Freddy Peralta, trading the right-handed starter to the Tampa Bay Rays, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic.

According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Mets are receiving High-A outfielder Aidan Smith, Double-A right-handed starter Gary Gill Hill and Double-A second baseman Emilien Pitre from the Rays. Smith is the No. 15 prospect by MLB Pipeline and Baseball America, Gill Hill No. 26 by MLB Pipeline and No. 27 by Baseball America and Pitre No. 27 by MLB Pipeline and unranked by Baseball America. The Rays have one of the better farm systems in baseball.

Peralta is making $8 million this season and is leaving the last-place Mets to join the AL East-leading Rays. The Rays will be covering the remaining $2.375 million of Peralta's salary. Peralta, who was acquired by the Mets from the Milwaukee Brewers along with right-hander Tobias Myers for infielder-outfielder Jett Williams and right-handed starter Brandon Sproat, is a free agent at the end of the season.

Peralta had a disappointing tenure with the Mets. In 22 starts, he had a 4.45 FIP (4.99 ERA) with a 9.4% walk rate and 22.1% strikeout rate. His strikeout rate is the worst of his career, a surprise for someone once known as Fastball Freddy.

Smith just turned 22 and was acquired by the Rays from the Seattle Mariners in the Randy Arozarena trade in 2024. He has a .209/.281/.392 with 10 homers and 40 RBIs in 59 games across three levels, including 49 at High-A. His season did not begin until May due to a hamstring injury. He was a fourth-round draft choice in 2023 out of Lovejoy High School in Lucas, Texas.

Gill Hill is 21 and was a sixth-round draft pick of the Rays in 2022 out of a high school in Somers, N.Y. He has made 20 starts this season, including 15 at Double-A, posting a 4.90 ERA in 108⅓ innings, with a very good 5% walk rate and a below-average 18.9% strikeout rate. Gill Hill pitched for Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic, appearing in two games.

Pitre is a 23-year-old Canadian who was the Rays' second-round pick in 2024 out of Kentucky. He also has split time between High-A and Double-A, putting up a .308/.438/.447 slash line with five homers, 46 RBIs and 32 stolen bases in 88 games.

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[Brock Beauchamp]

Gary Gill Hill is obviously a real name.