Rays trade three prospects to Mets for pitcher Freddy Peralta

Tampa Bay completed a trade with the New York Mets, sending infielder Émilien Pitre, outfielder Aidan Smith and right-hander Gary Gill Hill to acquire right-hander Freddy Peralta. Peralta, who struggled this season after leaving the Milwaukee Brewers, posted an ERA below replacement level and a below-average FIP, prompting the Mets to move him at the trade deadline.

The three players the Mets received are not considered top-100 prospects, but analysts note their potential. Pitre, a second baseman, is batting .323 with a .451 on-base percentage in Double-A and has drawn 30 walks in just over a month, indicating strong plate discipline. Hill, a 2022 sixth-round pick, possesses a fastball that can reach 96 mph and a slider in the upper 70s, though his overall repertoire is still developing. Smith, an outfielder who has not hit in two years and has seen a decline in performance, remains a project with uncertain upside.

"The Rays likely see an opportunity to improve Peralta's command, as they have done with other recent acquisitions," a baseball analyst noted.

The trade gives the Rays a low-cost pitcher who could benefit from Tampa Bay’s pitching development system, while the Mets acquire a mix of a potential everyday player, a pitcher with upside, and a former top prospect still early in his career.