DENVER -- As far as Freddy Peralta is concerned, a new season began Monday. He’ll get a chance Tuesday night to show what that means.
A day after being traded from the Mets to the Rays for a trio of well-regarded prospects following a disappointing stint in New York, Peralta joined Tampa Bay before Monday’s series opener against the Rockies. He met with manager Kevin Cash, chatted with pitching coach Kyle Snyder and started getting to know his new teammates, smiling everywhere he went.
And he will get right to work with his new club, as he is set to start Tuesday night’s game at Coors Field for the American League-leading Rays.
“I'm very excited to be here and join this group. Obviously, they're doing great, and I'm just here to help however they need me,” Peralta said. “I'm going to be there competing, and [I’m] very excited so far. I think that I've met everybody already, and it's been amazing.”
The Mets expected big things from Peralta when they gave up a pair of highly touted prospects to acquire the two-time All-Star from the Brewers last offseason, but his tenure with the team did not go according to plan. He left the Mets with a 5-9 record, a 4.99 ERA in 22 starts and a negative Wins Above Replacement total (-0.2 bWAR).
Peralta, who will wear No. 51 with the Rays, said he wished “nothing but the best” for the Mets and acknowledged that he “let them down” with his performance. But he was eager to turn the page as soon as the trade went down.
“Now, it's different,” Peralta said. “Now, I belong here, and I'm here doing my best and preparing to support and try to help the team to win.”
The Rays did not seem terribly concerned about the sudden downturn in Peralta’s production with the Mets, even though he’ll only have two months -- plus a potential postseason run -- to get right before reaching free agency. Peralta wasn’t worried about it, either, saying he has tried not to think about what went wrong.
On the other hand, he said some early work in the bullpen and a conversation with Cash had him feeling confident and excited to take the mound in his new uniform.
“I'm very comfortable … because I know who I really am. I trust myself. I said before that I feel that I am born to be a winner, not a loser,” Peralta said. “I have the confidence in myself. Obviously, sometimes things [don't] go your way as a player, but I feel good about something, which is that I prepare myself every day to give my best.”
Rival evaluators viewed Peralta’s issues as correctable, for what it’s worth, noting the drop in his arm angle (from 38 degrees in 2025 to 33 degrees this season) and the impact that may have had on his delivery and extension.
Meanwhile, Rays officials have pointed to Peralta’s impressive track record, including an outstanding 2025 season in which he finished fifth in the National League Cy Young Award voting. They rave about his durability, experience pitching in big games, competitive drive and friendly temperament as a teammate.
“Really energetic guy,” Cash said. “We'll do everything we can to help him, and I know he's going to do everything he can to help us.”
President of baseball operations Erik Neander said the 30-year-old right-hander is physically “in a very similar place” as he was at his best. He also noted the potential benefit of a “psychological reset” and a clean slate, statistically. And they can count on Snyder and the rest of the club’s renowned pitching group to handle the rest.
“They get the absolute most out of people,” Neander said. “Maybe the alignment's a little bit off, but all the talent, all the physical ingredients look like they're in place.”
Although they paid a high price for him, the Rays don’t necessarily need Peralta to perform like he did last season. They already have a formidable rotation with Drew Rasmussen, Shane McClanahan (currently on the injured list), Nick Martinez, Griffin Jax and Ian Seymour.
But Peralta’s innings will go a long way for this team, and his potential could help them play a long way into October.
“We made that deal because Freddy's an elite competitor, because he fits into our group and [we] believe he has the ingredients to do that,” Neander said. “Just to be wherever he is right now to help us win games, compete. Look, if we get that [All-Star] version, great. And as long as we just get his best and work with it, I think we'll end up in a really good place, no matter what that looks like.”