The season is quickly slipping away for the New York Mets, and with losses continuing to pile up, the organization may soon be forced to make difficult decisions about the future of its roster. Entering the year with expectations of competing for a World Series, the Mets instead find themselves buried near the bottom of Major League Baseball standings, sparking growing speculation that major changes could be coming before the trade deadline.
Much of the attention has centered around Freddy Peralta, the club’s headline offseason acquisition who was brought in to anchor the rotation and help lead a postseason push. Instead, the Mets have struggled badly out of the gate, and reports now suggest the front office is preparing contingency plans if the team cannot reverse course soon.
According to Mike Axisa of CBS Sports, the Mets are already considering a potential sell-off if their season does not improve by early June. One possible outcome could involve trading Peralta to a contender in need of pitching help.
“The thriving Chicago Cubs are among the teams to discuss a trade for righty Freddy Peralta with the disappointing New York Mets, reports 670 The Score,” Axisa noted. “The Mets are said to be targeting June 1 to either get back into the race or pivot to selling at the trade deadline. New York enters play Friday with baseball’s worst record at 14-23. They’re 6 ½ games out of a wild-card spot.”
Peralta’s contract situation is also fueling the speculation. The 30-year-old is set to become a free agent after the season, meaning the Mets could attempt to recover some of the assets they surrendered to acquire him during the offseason.
However, Peralta may not be the only notable arm available if the Mets officially shift into seller mode. Axisa believes another top pitcher, Clay Holmes, could also become a major trade candidate.
“If the Mets do indeed make Peralta available, they would almost certainly make righty Clay Holmes available as well,” Axisa wrote. “Holmes has outpitched Peralta this year and can opt out of his contract after the season, which he would very likely do given his $12 million salary for 2027. For all intents and purposes, Holmes is a rental like Peralta.”
