By Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal
The New York Mets are asking teams for a top-100 prospect and more in their early conversations with teams about Freddy Peralta, said people familiar with the discussions who spoke on the condition of anonymity in exchange for candor.
The Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays, Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies are among the clubs showing strong interest in Peralta, according to people briefed on the situation. Rotation-needy teams are, however, casting wide nets in their respective searches.
Peralta, 30, is owed $2.4 million owed after the Aug. 3 trade deadline before he hits free agency this winter.
At last year’s deadline, a couple of starting pitchers returned similar value to the Mets’ asking price. Outfielder James Tibbs III, who went to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Dustin May deal last year, is now a Top 100 prospect. When the Arizona Diamondbacks dealt Merrill Kelly, they received David Hagaman, Mitch Bratt and Kohl Drake, who, respectively, are now their Nos. 3, 9 and 22 prospects, per MLB Pipeline. Both Kelly and May were impending free agents.
Peralta is scheduled to start on Friday. In 22 starts, he has a 4.99 ERA, 1.48 WHIP.
