The Tampa Bay Rays have stumbled a bit recently, but they still remain one of the top teams in the American League and could be looking to strengthen their roster ahead of the summer stretch run.
Coming into the season, expectations for Tampa Bay were relatively modest. However, the Rays have quickly established themselves as one of baseball’s better teams despite their recent struggles. Over their last 10 games, the club has gone just 2-8 and suffered sweeps against both the Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers.
Of course, rough stretches are inevitable during a 162-game season. Even so, Tampa Bay may still benefit from adding reinforcements as they evaluate areas that need improvement. The team has already surpassed preseason expectations, and making a notable addition or two could significantly boost their chances moving forward.
One of the brighter spots for the Rays has been their starting rotation, especially after free-agent additions Nick Martinez and Steven Matz performed well early on. Still, neither pitcher was necessarily expected to anchor the front end of the rotation long term. Martinez, in particular, may already be showing signs of slowing down, which makes the idea of adding another starter increasingly appealing.
Mike Axisa of CBS Sports recently discussed possible destinations for New York Mets pitcher Freddy Peralta, and Tampa Bay was mentioned as a logical fit. Similar to the Rays’ rumored interest in Tarik Skubal, Peralta could be an ideal target.
Peralta’s move to the Mets during the offseason was viewed as one of the biggest trades of the winter. New York needed a frontline starter and believed the right-hander could help lead the rotation.
Unfortunately for the Mets, the season has not gone according to plan. If the team continues to struggle, they could shift into seller mode before the trade deadline. Since Peralta is set to become a free agent after the season, he would likely emerge as one of their most attractive trade chips.
The veteran right-hander has posted a 4-4 record with a 3.38 ERA this season. While those numbers are respectable, they have not been enough to turn things around for New York as a team. Meanwhile, the Rays have done a strong job rebuilding their farm system and should have enough prospect depth to put together a competitive offer.
Although the Mets would prefer to remain in contention and add pieces at the deadline, that outcome may not materialize. If Peralta becomes available and the asking price is reasonable, he could be an excellent addition for Tampa Bay’s rotation.
