The Freddy Peralta experiment is over in New York.
The Mets have traded Peralta to the Rays less than a year after acquiring him in a blockbuster trade this winter with the Brewers, per multiple reports.
In a move that fans hoped would add a new ace last offseason, the Mets received the right-handed pitcher and Tobias Myers in exchange for top prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat.
Peralta was supposed to be the leader in a pitching staff that already included Nolan McLean, Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga.
But Peralta has been anything but that.
Peralta’s strikeout numbers and batting average against have declined from past seasons, although he has maintained his walk rate and home run percentage of his previously All-Star seasons.
Peralta himself said he doesn’t understand the struggles after an 8-2 loss to the Brewers on July 21.
“I just want to get through this,” Peralta said. “I still believe in myself. I know that I’m better than great and sometimes it’s not easy.
“But I have to understand as a player there’s some tough moments that we have got to get through. It’s not the first one or the last one, but I don’t want to stay like this.”
The loss to the Brewers represented everything he has been going through.
Peralta was showered with love before the game, as the Brewers played a highlight reel of his eight seasons on the team and fans cheered for him.
The pleasantries ended the second the game started, though. Peralta ended the day after 5 ⅔ innings, having allowed eight hits and two walks, and seven earned runs.
