Peralta scratched by Mets with Trade Deadline looming on Monday

NEW YORK -- With negotiations intensifying three days before Monday’s 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline, the Mets scratched right-hander Freddy Peralta from his scheduled start against the Marlins about five hours prior to first pitch.

“That doesn’t mean something is going to materialize tonight,” interim manager Andy Green said. “But once talks got to the level that they’re at, it just became a prudent path for us.”

Peralta had been scheduled to pitch against the Marlins, which could have helped boost his value heading into the Deadline. But multiple league sources noted that Peralta has been drawing significant interest despite his struggles, which include a 7.34 ERA over his last nine starts.

A plethora of contenders are seeking starting pitching help, including the Braves, Brewers, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Rays, Phillies and White Sox, and there isn’t enough inventory to go around. Outside of Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, the Mets may control the next-best two starting pitchers available in Clay Holmes and Peralta, both of whom can become free agents after the season. (Holmes has a $12 million player option on his contract that he is overwhelmingly likely to decline.)

For those reasons, it comes as no surprise that the Mets are in serious negotiations to trade Peralta.

“It has to reach a certain level,” Green said when asked about the threshold to scratch a player. “At this time of the year, we wouldn’t be able to field a team if it just took an inquiry to scratch someone. It has reached that level that this is the right decision for us and the right decision for Freddy.”

With Peralta unavailable, the Mets started Kodai Senga against the Marlins. Holmes is scheduled to pitch on Sunday, and while Green defined that as the current plan, a league source indicated Holmes is highly unlikely to make that start.

With less than 72 hours remaining until the Deadline, things can change rapidly. The Mets played Thursday’s game with left-hander A.J. Minter “effectively unavailable,” according to Green, because they were deep in trade talks with the Twins. That deal wound up happening about an hour after their game ended.

In addition to Holmes and Peralta, the Mets are expected to trade lefty reliever Brooks Raley and outfielder Tyrone Taylor before Monday’s Deadline. Right-handed relievers Luke Weaver and Huascar Brazobán also stand significant chances of leaving, as does outfielder Luis Robert Jr.

Of that group, Peralta presents perhaps the most interesting case. A 30-year-old, two-time All-Star, Peralta came to the Mets billed as a frontline starter capable of leading their staff. The Mets surrendered two premium prospects, Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat, to the Brewers to get him.

But Peralta allowed four runs on Opening Day and never really stabilized, instead deteriorating as the season progressed. He holds a 4.99 ERA over 22 starts, with by far the lowest strikeout rate of his career.

Peralta did report to Citi Field on Friday, with plans to watch the game from the dugout bench.

“He likes to compete. He wants to pitch,” Green said. “He’s also smart, and he understands it.”