Inside The Mets

Mets’ Freddy Peralta Reveals What He’s Seeking in a Long-Term Deal

Freddy Peralta is open to staying with the Mets beyond this season.
Feb 27, 2026; Jupiter, Florida, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) warms up against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Feb 27, 2026; Jupiter, Florida, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) warms up against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

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Freddy Peralta seems to be fitting in very nicely as he prepares to enter his first season with the New York Mets.

During an exclusive interview with Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Peralta revealed that he would like to stay with the Mets long term as he is slated to become a free agent after this season.

The two-time All-Star also told Heyman that he feels "very comfortable" in New York and has family all throughout the boroughs; Peralta further added that he is seeking a contract of "seven or eight years."

Since the start of the offseason, adding a frontline starting pitcher to pair with rookie phenom Nolan McLean was a top priority for the Mets. For most of last season, the team lacked a true ace for a beleaguered staff that ultimately derailed their year.

While the Mets remained quiet for the first two months of the winter in an attempt to add a top starting pitcher, the Amazins' would make their move on January 21. They acquired Peralta along with Tobias Myers in a blockbuster deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, in exchange for top prospects Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams.

The Mets are certainly high on Peralta given the amount of young talent they shipped off to Milwaukee, especially as he's currently a one-year rental for them. In 31 starts during the 2025 season with the Brewers, the 29-year-old posted a 17-6 record with a career-best 2.70 ERA, 204 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.08 in 176.2 innings pitched.

He also became just the third pitcher in Brewers history to rack up 200-plus strikeouts in three straight seasons (2023-2025), joining only Yovani Gallardo, who did for four straight seasons (2009-2012), and Corbin Burnes (2021-2023).

Expectations for Freddy Peralta Moving Forward

Peralta made a strong first impression during his spring debut with the Mets when he fired three scoreless innings and struck out three against the St. Louis Cardinals on February 27. The right-hander was also tabbed as New York's Opening Day starter when they face the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 26, in what is expected to be a pitcher's duel with the Bucs throwing out reigning Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes.

After lacking a true ace during much of the last season, Freddy Peralta seems to be the right answer the Mets need at the top of their rotation entering this year. Now, the hard-throwing righty is hoping that his stint with his new team won't end after just one season.

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Logan VanDine
LOGAN VANDINE

Logan VanDine is a contributing writer for On SI's Mets. Logan is a graduate of Rider University where he majored in Sports Media and minored in Sports Studies. During his time at Rider, Logan worked for Rider's radio station, 107.7 The Bronc as a sports host, producer and broadcaster, and for the school's paper: The Rider News. He began his time with The Rider News as a section writer for sports and was a copy editor for two years followed by being one of the sports editors during his senior year. Logan also placed third in the New Jersey Press Foundation Awards for sports feature writing. Aside from his work at On SI, he is also a writer for FanSided covering the New York Giants and Mets and also covers the Giants for Total Apex Sports. Give him a follow on X: @VandineLogan