Freddy Peralta hasn't yet thrown a regular-season pitch for the Mets after arriving via trade from the Brewers this past January, but that doesn't mean he isn't ready to be with the club for a long time.
According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman in an article for the New York Post (subscription required), the All-Star right-hander would like a contract extension of "seven or eight" years as he enters the final season of his current deal. He is owed $8 million for this season after Milwaukee exercised its club option.
Peralta, who is entering his age-30 campaign in 2026, is coming off a career year in which he posted a 2.70 ERA and led the National League with 17 wins. He struck out 28.2% of opposing batters and earned his second career All-Star nod. He also finished fifth in NL Cy Young Award voting. Over his eight-year MLB career, he owns a 3.59 ERA and a 29.9% K rate.
Seeking a bona fide ace to pair with young right-hander Nolan McLean (Mets' No. 1 prospect, No. 6 overall) atop a starting rotation that finished 18th in the Majors in ERA (4.13) last season, the Mets swung a deal for Peralta in which they sent their No. 3 (Jett Williams) and No. 5 (Brandon Sproat) prospects to the Brewers. The move came after significant changes to the position-player side of the roster -- slugging first baseman Pete Alonso and elite closer Edwin Díaz departed in free agency, and the club dealt Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil.
Should Peralta secure a seven- or eight-year extension, it would match or exceed the longest contract extensions given to a pitcher. Currently, that designation is held by Justin Verlander (seven-year, $180 million extension with the Tigers in 2013), Félix Hernández (seven years, $175 million with the Mariners in 2013), Clayton Kershaw (seven years, $215 million with the Dodgers in 2014), Stephen Strasburg (seven years, $175 million with the Nationals in 2016) and José Berríos (seven years, $131 million with the Blue Jays in 2021).