Potential suitors for Freddy Peralta are emerging
Plus - if the Mets play on Wednesday, they'll have a doubleheader against the Braves at Citi Field
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets and Braves were rained out on Tuesday and will play two games today, starting at 1:10 pm EST
Sean Manaea and Christian Scott will start Games 1 and 2, respectively
The Braves’ AJ Smith-Shawver will be making his first start since tearing his UCL last May
Rumor Mill 💨
The Mets have reportedly talked to the Brewers about a Freddy Peralta trade (ESPN); the Rays have also expressed interest in Peralta (FanSided)
The Mets reportedly have had scouts looking at the Cubs’ Double-A talent (Athlon Sports)
Though the Mets are expected to be sellers, it’s not anticipated that they’re going to enter a full rebuild (MLB.com)
The Mets don’t want to trade Luis Torrens (NY Post)
The Just Mets Podcast 🎙️
ICYMI: On the latest edition of the Just Mets Podcast, Andrew was joined by Alex Cintron to discuss Carlos Beltran’s induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
SUBSCRIBE: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Down on the Farm 🌾
RF/CF Nick Morabito (No. 11 prospect, Triple-A): 2-for-4, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB
2B Ronny Mauricio (Triple-A): 2-for-3, HR, R, 3 RBI
LHRP Nate Lavender (Triple-A): 2.0 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
RHP Clay Holmes (Single-A, rehab): 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
C Ryan Tayman (Single-A): 4-for-5, HR, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI
RF John Smith III (Single-A): 2-for-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, K
SS Elian Peña (No. 3 prospect, Single-A): 1-for-5, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
CF Aiden Robbins (Single-A): 2-for-6, 2B, 2 RBI, K
BOX SCORES
Single-A SLU | High-A BRK | Double-A BNG (PPD) | Triple-A SYR
Today’s Games 🗓
Match-up: Mets (45-62) vs. Braves (62-44)
Where: Citi Field - Flushing, NY
Where to Watch: SNY
Game 1
Starters: LHP Sean Manaea (2-5, 4.52 ERA) vs. RHP AJ Smith-Shawver (0-0, -.-- ERA)
When: 1:10 PM EDT
Game 2
Starters: RHP Christian Scott (3-2, 3.13 ERA) vs. LHP Chris Sale (11-6, 2.19 ERA)
When: 7:10 PM EDT
The buzz on Freddy Peralta, interest in Luis Torrens ✍️
With Monday’s trade deadline creeping ever closer, the whirlwind of rumors has kicked up considerably.
Let’s semi-quickly react to some recent headlines:
The Brewers and Rays are interested in Freddy Peralta…
As has been long rumored and is now confirmed by ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Brewers are in on their former ace; but they have a rival suitor.
Per FanSided’s Robert Murray, the ever-scary Rays have made their interest in Peralta known as well. From the Mets’ perspective, this is as close to best-case scenario as could exist given the way Peralta’s season has unfolded thus far.
These two teams are perfect foils for one another, in a sense: while the Brewers are ripe in position-player prospect talent, they don’t have close to what the Rays do in arm depth, at least not based on performances across their Top 30 pitching talent. However, while the Mets do need to rebuild their pitching depth, this may not be the deal they replenish arms with, as both Milwaukee and Tampa can plug some immediate infield gaps for this system.
With all due respect to Mitch Voit, the Mets need another Jett Williams type at the top of the system that’s reasonably close to big league playing time…just maybe not Williams himself.
The Mets front office also has to keep in mind a couple of potential issues in front of them as they begin to plan for 2027:
The forthcoming free agent class this winter, especially for position players, is not good. Therefore, its imperative they accumulate as many prospects as they can now, even if they’re mid-tier, so they have attractive prospect capital to fill their needs both around the diamond and in their rotation
With so much economic uncertainty ahead, their avenue to improve primarily maybe through the trade markets anyway, further prioritizing the need to increase their quality prospect capital. All of the big market teams - including the Yankees and Dodgers - could be in this boat. Of course, it all depends on how the next collective bargaining agreement plays out
Though these may be a stretch for Peralta this season, here’s a Top 30 prospect from each proposed partner that would be a good fit for the Mets’ farm:
Brewers: No. 18 Luke Adams (1B/3B)
Luke Adams is a righty corner infielder who’s hitting .265 with a .952 OPS at Triple-A in 2026. Based on the numbers, Adams looks like a prime Mark Vientos replacement candidate: a 50-grade hit tool, 50-grade power tool, a recent full-time shift over to first base…color me interested. He’s not a perfect hitting prospect (there are some plate discipline and swing decision kinks to be ironed out), but he’s an on-base machine who can slug and hit for average — and other than Jared Young, the Mets don’t have a ton to work with in this particular positional department, unless Ryan Clifford can finally put it together.
Rays: No. 17 Brayden Taylor (3B/2B)
If Adams is a potential Vientos swap, here’s a Baty sub: Brayden Taylor is a power-first lefty corner infielder with a solid glove and strong arm (both 55-grade) that would slot very nicely into the Mets’ organization. With Jacob Reimer struggling this season, Bo Bichette only under contract at most until 2028, and no other prominent hot corner option in development, a third baseman with the ability to slide around the middle infield sounds like the ideal target for this team. Taylor’s having a terrific season, hitting .281 with a .900 OPS, 17 homers and 17 steals — it’s only fair he be able to take those talents elsewhere with Junior Caminero firmly established in Tampa.
The Mets have scouts watching the Cubs’ farm system…
Pat Ragazzo of Athlon Sports reported that Mets scouts have had their eyes on the Cubs' Double-A club. Mets’d Up podcast host (and friend of the Just Mets pod) James Schiano followed that report with the suggestion that the only Cub currently at Double-A who tracks for this sort of trade is infielder Jefferson Rojas. For the talent level, James is probably right. Though it’s unlikely either Bichette or Francisco Lindor will get moved, the Mets also don’t have a ton of talent in the pipeline getting ready to replace those two in the not-too-distant future. Rojas is slashing .272/.338/.467 with 15 homers, 15 steals, a .354 wOBA, and a 116 wRC+ in 85 games this season — should he get dealt, it’s unlikely he’ll linger in any other team’s system all that long.
The biggest potential hurdle, though, could be Rojas’ prospect status: he’s Chicago’s second-overall prospect, and they don’t exactly have a wealth of infield talent that’s all that close to MLB-ready in their pipeline either. However, that lack of depth may not be all that big a con: shortstop Dansby Swanson is under contract until 2030, third baseman Alex Bregman is signed through 2032, and rookie infielder James Triantos is in the big leagues now, so a path to playing time isn’t really looming. The Mets couldn’t necessarily offer immediate playing time, but they could likely guarantee sooner reps at the big-league level than the Cubs can.
There’s also an argument to be made for the Mets to target righties Brooks Caple and/or Luis Martinez-Gomez. Caple ranks as the Cubs’ eighth-overall prospect, and their third-highest ranked arm. For a team that needs starting pitching help both now and in the immediate future, it’s difficult to see them dealing from the top of that particular talent list.
Martinez-Gomez, meanwhile, sits a bit further down the Top 30, but has had just as excellent a season as Caple. Taking a page out of A.J. Ewing’s book, Martinez-Gomez has flown through three levels of the Cubs’ system this season: in 39.2 innings, he’s worked to a 3.63 ERA with a 1.03 WHIP and a ~3:1 K/BB ratio. Last week, he tossed 12 strikeouts over six innings. Martinez-Gomez comes with a 50-grade fastball and a 55-grade splitter that can be serious strikeout weapons when located correctly. His numbers this season suggest he’s learning how to rein in his arsenal relatively quickly — he could be worth a look and a move.
The Mets don’t want to trade Luis Torrens…
Good. They shouldn’t.
There’s really no need to overthink this one — this is a classic case of ‘Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.’
While flipping a premier defensive catcher would likely yield a considerable return, Torrens isn’t just a standard second-string backstop. As usual, Torrens presently ranks among the league’s best run-stoppers, tied for fourth in MLB in caught steals above average and third in framing runs; he also sits among the top 20 in blocks above average. For a team that has trouble scoring runs, limiting opponent RISP opportunities and stealing strikes feels crucial whenever possible, no matter how valuable potential trade return might be.
Could having the best backup catcher in the league be considered a luxury when you’re in last place? Perhaps — but Torrens got a two-year extension for a reason, and provided we have a season in 2027, this team really isn’t too many pieces away from assembling a contender (curse my ceaseless faith). Why muddy up one of your most stable positions in a period where the potential for replacement via trade or free agency is woefully weak?
Lest ye need a reminder. And 2028 doesn’t look much better.
Sure, they could probably deal Álvy for some pieces, sign one of the guys above to a one- or two-year deal to work alongside Torrens while they build up catchers already in the system…but what’s the point? Why trade for or sign one .750 OPS catcher for another .750 OPS catcher, especially when one of those catchers is already under arb control through 2029 and can mash?
Leave the catcher tandem alone. ‘If it ain’t broke,’ etc., and this feels like one of the least-broken things on this team.
Just because you can doesn’t mean you should…frankly, that’s good advice for this deadline in general. The Mets have plenty of pieces to sell — but they should only sell them if the price is right. Otherwise, just let expiring contracts expire, see where the CBA chips fall, and get to work in the winter.
Around the League 🚩
The Dodgers, Brewers, and Rays are expected to be the biggest players in the Tarik Skubal sweepstakes (MLB.com)
With the recently acquired Curtis Mead bound for the IL, the Red Sox are looking to upgrade their infield; Boston has reportedly expressed interest in Zach Neto, C.J. Abrams, and Jeremy Peña (MLB.com)
Twins GM Jeremy Zoll said that they will be buyers at the deadline; a 3-2 win over the Royals put Minnesota back at .500 and squarely in the postseason hunt (MLB.com)
After Reds skipper Terry Francona successfully challenged an errant HBP call, Kyle Manzardo hit a first-inning grand slam off Chase Burns to set the stage for a 6-5 Cleveland win
The Nationals drew six walks in the first inning against Shane Bieber (including three with the bases loaded), the most in a single frame in franchise history; they walked eight times and homered twice in an 8-6 win over the Blue Jays
Sandy Alcántara spun seven scoreless innings to help the Marlins hold off the Phillies 1-0; it was his 111th quality start, a franchise record
Agreed about holding onto to our catching duo. Mr. Buskirk, can you tell me why Mauricio isn't with the big club? In a lost season, isn't it an ideal time to play him and see if he can figure it out?
Great piece, as always. One note: Guardians manager is Stephen Vogt, not Terry Francona (who manages the Reds).