Cubs Linked Heavily to Freddy Peralta, Mets Seeking Top-100 Prospect in Return
Freddy Peralta has long been viewed as a potential Cubs target at the deadline, and multiple reports have him among Jed Hoyer’s top names. Peralta was scratched from his Friday start and is almost certain to be moved, perhaps soon enough to take the bump for a new team before Tuesday. Though he’d represent a steep drop-off from Tarik Skubal, the lower acquisition cost and familiarity with Craig Counsell could make Peralta a pivot priority should the Cubs opt against an all-in deal with Detroit.
We’re not talking about a cheap deal, however, as The Athletic reported that the Mets are seeking “a top-100 prospect and more” for the 30-year-old righty with a 4.99 ERA and no club control after this season. For the Cubs, that would mean parting with either Josiah Hartshorn (60 on MLB Pipeline’s list) or Jefferson Rojas (63). The former isn’t happening under just about any circumstance, but the latter could be more likely just due to the Cubs’ glut of young infielders.
Between Matt Shaw, James Triantos, and Pedro Ramírez, Hoyer has plenty of options when it comes to MLB-ready hitters to deal. Rojas represents more latent potential because he’s a 21-year-old shortstop at Double-A, so it could come down to whether other clubs are looking for immediate impact versus future value. In the end, it’s unlikely the Mets will be able to get a top-100 prospect for Peralta, let alone more.
Even though player development remains rife with pitfalls, MLB teams have gotten so good at evaluating talent that top-100 youngsters are rarely moved at the deadline. The economics of the game are such that those players are worth their weight in gold. You can’t really blame the Mets for trying, and that Athletic article indicates that the asking price stems from the respective returns for Dustin May and Merrill Kelly last year.
The Dodgers got outfielder James Tibbs III from Boston in exchange for May, and Tibbs has since risen to No. 89 on Pipeline’s list. That makes him just ninth in LA’s system, which is why they’re viewed as the frontrunner for Skubal. Well, that and the fact that they get all the best toys. The Brewers have a very strong farm as well, and they could be willing to spend from it to create the best 1-2 punch in the game.
That’s why pivoting, and quickly, could be very important for Hoyer and the Cubs. Unless Skubal can be divided among multiple teams, all of those shopping at the top of the market are going to look elsewhere when they realize they can’t get him. That includes the Rays, Braves, and Phillies, all of whom are linked to both Skubal and Peralta. It’s not as simple as just making a list and moving along it as names are crossed off, but it might not be much more complicated than that either.
Just about anything the Cubs do will give them an upgrade over their current rotation, but there aren’t many moves they can make that will provide a big lift. Barring an immediate turnaround, Peralta is not a difference-making starter. I guess we’ll just have to see what happens.
