The Tampa Bay Rays strengthened their starting rotation Sunday by acquiring pitcher Freddy Peralta from the New York Mets in exchange for three minor league players. The trade was completed shortly before the Major League Baseball trade deadline Monday evening.

Peralta, a two-time All-Star right-hander, struggled during his first season with the Mets after being acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers last winter. In 22 starts, he posted a 5-9 record with a 4.99 earned run average and failed to complete five innings in four of his final five outings. Prior to joining the Mets, Peralta was a key contributor for Milwaukee, finishing the 2025 season with a 17-6 record and a 2.70 ERA over 33 starts, leading the National League in wins and placing fifth in Cy Young Award voting.

Interim Mets manager Andy Green acknowledged Peralta’s efforts despite his disappointing results, noting that the pitcher competed hard every time he took the mound. Green revealed Peralta was informed of the trade during the early innings of Sunday’s 2-0 loss to the Miami Marlins, a defeat that dropped New York’s record to 47-66, their worst through 113 games since 2003.

The Mets acquired outfielder Aidan Smith, infielder Émilien Pitre, and right-handed pitcher Gary Gill Hill from Tampa Bay in the deal. Pitre, a second-round pick in 2024, and Hill, a sixth-rounder in 2022, are regarded as promising prospects. Smith, a fourth-round selection in 2023, was previously traded to the Rays by the Seattle Mariners.

For Tampa Bay, which entered the day with the best record in the American League at 65-45 and a 3½-game lead in the AL East, the addition of Peralta provides valuable depth. Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander described Peralta as a seasoned major league starter with a strong competitive track record, capable of bolstering the team's pitching staff during its playoff push.

Peralta joins a Rays rotation led by All-Stars Drew Rasmussen and Nick Martinez. Left-hander Shane McClanahan, an All-Star in both 2022 and 2023, has been sidelined with back tightness since being placed on the 15-day injured list Friday.

The trade follows a flurry of activity ahead of the deadline, including the high-profile acquisition of ace pitcher Tarik Skubal by the Los Angeles Dodgers from the Detroit Tigers. New York’s acquisition of Peralta last offseason involved sending top prospects Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams to Milwaukee, a move aimed at securing a frontline starter, a goal that ultimately fell short as Peralta struggled to meet expectations in New York.