8/2/26

Open Thread - Peralta traded to the Rays

 


It was just announced that Freddy Peralta has been dealt to the Tampa Bay Rays for minor-league outfielder Aidan Smith, infielder Emilien Pitre and right-handed pitcher Gary Gill Hill.

Your thoughts on the return?

21 comments:

aptoklas said...

From AI:

Based on what we know today, I think the Mets did well, especially considering how much Freddy Peralta’s value had fallen during his disappointing season. He posted a 4.99 ERA in 22 starts and was headed to free agency, making it unlikely the Mets would recover the premium they originally paid.

Here’s how I’d evaluate the return:

Aidan Smith – ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
The key piece of the deal.
Potential everyday center fielder with power, speed, and plus defense.
Highest ceiling in the trade package.
Gary Gill Hill – ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Polished right-handed starter.
Good command and four-pitch mix.
Projects as a dependable No. 3 or No. 4 starter.
Émilien Pitre – ⭐⭐⭐☆
High-contact second baseman with speed and defensive value.
Lower ceiling but a good chance to reach the majors.

Overall Grade

For the Mets: B+
They turned a struggling, impending free-agent starter into three legitimate prospects, including one with significant upside.
For the Rays: B
Tampa Bay is betting it can help Peralta rediscover the form that made him an All-Star. That’s a classic Rays move with meaningful upside if they succeed.

One caveat is the context: the Mets originally gave up Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat to acquire Peralta. In that sense, they ultimately lost value over the full sequence of trades. But if you judge this trade by itself, given Peralta’s performance and expiring contract, acquiring Aidan Smith, Gary Gill Hill, and Émilien Pitre is a solid return and better than many expected.

Paul Articulates said...

You cost us a lot of money Freddy for nothing other than innings. We will boo you every time you return to New York. David Stearns will boo loudest because you were among the many players who tarnished his reputation.

Mack Ade said...

Aiden Smith is the real deal

Immediately becomes one of my top 10 Mets prospects

Mack Ade said...

Tom will love his K/AB%

aptoklas said...

His high A numbers very underwhelming this year. .215 BA with few walks. Last year was poor too.

Jules C-- The Cautious Optimist said...

this is a damn good trade. positions of need at infield and on the mound, and best of all, another outfielder beyond Morabito at the top of the charts. This is a lot to get back and frankly more than they gave up to get Peralta in terms of the performance Milwaukee got from Sproat and Jett. An outfielder alone whose talent surpasses the ceiling of both. IMHO

Tom Brennan said...

Aidan Smith was hitting .210 this year.

Pitre was hitting .310 this year.

That Adam Smith said...

I think that the 2B, Pitre, might be the most interesting piece of this deal. Across A+ and AA this season, hitting .308 with a .438 OB% due to 70BB and only 40K. Add his speed and defense, and he looks like our new #1 or #2 infield prospect.

That Adam Smith said...

Something like a 3% whiff rate. That’s elite bat to ball skills. Also has 10 HR this season so not entirely devoid of power.

Mack Ade said...

It will be interesting to see who plays second going forward for the Ponies

Jules C-- The Cautious Optimist said...

I expect to see Voit playing a lot of SS

Norm said...

The Skubal trade is going to depress the trade market for nobody is beating LA in a 7 game series

Jules C-- The Cautious Optimist said...

If I were a betting man, I would bet on Holmes, Weaver and Raley being offered to the Brewers for one of their top prospects. The reason I say that is that losing out on Skubal they need another very strong and reliable pitcher to compete with the Dodgers and even earn home field over them and Holmes is the best available because he is a ground ball machine, but on his own the Mets won't get enough back to excite them. So they are incentivized to offer more to get more and it would have to be someone who is under control which is Weaver. Raley is a sweetener that strengthens the bullpen

D J said...

That would be a great trade.

aptoklas said...

Seems to me Pitre is a better prospect than Jett Williams at this point. Much better eye, much lower K rate, better size and a good defender. He also has speed.

Will be interesting to see if Hill becomes a better pitcher than Sproat.

Smith seems like a lottery ticket. Very toolsy but high strikeout rate and low BA and this is in AA. We don’t have much luck developing those guys.

Tom Brennan said...

He could be ready by opening day

Tom Brennan said...

He had a slip of the tongue when he said he was happy to be in the same organization as Whifford. He mean to say Clifford.

Tom Brennan said...

I love those Pitre K numbers. He might be ranked in high 20s for the Rays, but it is probably stale, and he may have ranked much higher if it had just been updated.

Tom Brennan said...

I am not sure if Ohtani was still pitching. I know he had some discomfort. So, they relaxed his pitching side?

Tom Brennan said...

Weaver, Raley and Ryan Clifford for Jesus Made. Clifford would be the deciding chip.

Mack Ade said...

Tuesday lineups should be interesting