The MLB trade deadline is getting closer, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned about the New York Yankees, it’s this: they rarely sit still when there’s an impact arm within reach. With Gerrit Cole nearing full return and the Bronx Bombers holding firm atop the AL standings, pressure is mounting to bolster the staff for October. And as rival contenders look to upgrade, one name is surfacing more and more: Freddy Peralta.
Peralta, the Brewers’ flame-throwing right-hander who signed a 5-year $15.5M deal in 2020, isn’t just another deadline rental. He’s a cost-controlled, high-strikeout, playoff-tested weapon under contract through 2025 with a club option for 2026 at just $8 million, a steal in today’s market. And yet, Milwaukee might just be tempted to sell, according to the MLB.com reporter Mark Feinsand.
They’ve done it before with Josh Hader, Corbin Burnes, and Devin Williams, and Peralta could be next. The Yankees are keeping an eye.
Peralta’s ability to dominate lineups deep into games make him the kind of chess piece Brian Cashman loves to acquire, someone who could stabilize the rotation now or transition into a lethal October bullpen role. With Clarke Schmidt still on the mend and Nestor Cortes inconsistent, Peralta would give the Yankees options, insurance, and swagger.
But New York isn’t the only one circling. The Orioles, Braves, and Blue Jays are all reportedly in the mix. Yet unlike those teams, the Yankees have both the financial muscle and the prospect capital to swing a deal. It wouldn’t come cheap, but they’re all-in.
With the clock ticking and Milwaukee walking the tightrope between playoff push and future planning, the question isn’t just whether Peralta gets dealt. It’s which contender is bold enough to step up first, and all signs suggest the Yanks are already warming up the phones.
Why Freddy Peralta is drawing deadline buzz
Every trade deadline has that one name that sneaks up on everyone, and this year, it’s starting to look like Freddy Peralta. He’s not a free agent-to-be. He’s not pitching in a last-place market. But Peralta checks the boxes that front offices crave: power stuff, durability, and most importantly, team control at a bargain price. He’s owed just $8 million in 2025, with an equally affordable club option in 2026. That kind of value doesn’t hit the market often, and when it does, contenders start dialing fast.
While Peralta’s ERA hovering around 3.6, scouts see beyond the surface, his swing, and miss metrics and advanced numbers suggest he’s exactly the type of pitcher who can thrive under postseason pressure. Add in his October track record, and you have a pitcher built for the spotlight.
It’s not just the numbers, it’s the flexibility. Peralta could fit as a No. 2 or No. 3 starter for a playoff-bound team, or slot into a high-leverage bullpen role if needed. That adaptability makes him one of the most interesting arms potentially available.
So while Milwaukee hasn’t hung a “For Sale” sign on him, the growing buzz makes one thing clear: if he hits the market, the competition will be fierce and fast.
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