Freddy Peralta’s market expected to be even more expensive if Mets do this one thing

Freddy Peralta’s market expected to be even more expensive if Mets do this one thing originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Generally, players don’t take qualifying offers, though we did see multiple last year. 

To put things simply, there’s an expectation that some players could take one this offseason as well, but the chances of that being a guy like New York Mets star Freddy Peralta are very slim. 

Peralta is one of the better starters in Major League Baseball and figures to be the second-best starter available this winter outside of Tarik Skubal. The chances of him taking a qualifying offer are nearly zero.

There’s also reason to believe that the qualifying offer could make him very appealing on the open market. If he were to get traded at the deadline, the team that trades for him can’t offer him a QO, and that makes him more valuable to teams. 

Not that a team is really going to be too worried about giving up a draft pick for a starter of Peralta’s caliber long term, but it definitely has some level of impact, even if clubs don’t want to always admit it. According to MLB Trade Rumors, that’s a factor that’s going to be considered this winter.

“Like Skubal, Peralta is pitching for a losing club that entered the season firmly expecting to contend. If the Mets bite the bullet and decide to sell some veteran pieces this summer, Peralta will be among the most sought-after names on the trade market. A trade would render him ineligible for a qualifying offer, which would only enhance his appeal on the open market,” MLB Trade Rumors wrote.

Peralta doesn’t need a whole lot more appeal on the open market than he already has, as he’s that good, but not getting a qualifying offer would make teams that much more interested in signing him this winter. Perhaps that’s bad news for the Mets, but only time will tell.

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