The Toronto Blue Jays are a surging team in MLB and are moving ever closer to the top spot in the American League East. As the trade deadline looms, it will be interesting to see what strategy Toronto implements.
Star shortstop Bo Bichette is apparently on the block, but as the Blue Jays are now 40-33, they might want to make additions in late July to help improve their roster immediately and be able to compete in a wide-open AL.
The Blue Jays are currently being linked to the Milwaukee Brewers’ starting pitcher, Freddy Peralta, who has 200 strikeouts in back-to-back seasons.
What Is the Likelihood of Peralta Being Moved?
In a recent trade article by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, he believes Peralta could be moved depending on how the Milwaukee Brewers finish the first half of the season. Here is what he had to say on the Brewers’ ace:
“Like the Rays, the Brewers have a history of dealing players as they get closer to free agency (see Josh Hader, Corbin Burnes and Devin Williams), though trading Peralta would be a bold move given that Milwaukee sits only 1 1/2 games out of a Wild Card spot. Still, with an $8 million salary in 2025 and an $8 million club option for 2026, Peralta would surely draw interest from teams looking for controllable pitching, which is always a popular target around the Trade Deadline.”
Peralta will likely draw plenty of interest due to his track record of being a strikeout artist. Peralta has a 2.60 ERA this season in 83 innings pitched. In 2024, he had a 3.68 ERA over 173 innings and punched out 200 batters. Peralta has a career average of 11.1 K/9.
Feinsand also noted that other clubs may also be interested in Peralta, like the Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, and New York Yankees. If the Brewers seemingly make him available, likely any team that is buying will call them about their ace.
What Could a Return Package Look Like?
If the Toronto Blue Jays were to go all in on Peralta, it would likely cost them a pretty decent haul. A fair deal would include their third-ranked prospect, Orelvis Martinez, reliever Spencer Turnbull, and starter Alek Manoah. Manoah is a former All-Star, but has had some real trouble getting back to the big league level since. This would serve as a good breath of fresh air for him, and the same deal with Turnbull.
Martinez is a 23-year-old prospect who is on the verge of being MLB-ready. The infield prospect has 19 XBH and 24 RBIs in 59 games this season with AAA Buffalo. A trade package could even include more capital than just three players for a guy like Peralta, who slots in immediately as one of the Jays’ best starters.
This deal would give Toronto one of the best rotations in baseball. They have Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt, who are having solid seasons, paired with Peralta, who could be an All-Star this season.
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