3 Brewers prospects the NY Mets can target in a Freddy Peralta trade reunion

Not a lot has gone right for the New York Mets this year, with Freddy Peralta perhaps serving as the paradigmatic example of the struggling bottom-feeders in the NL East. A longtime ace of the Milwaukee Brewers, David Stearns surrendered two top-100 prospects to reunite with Peralta this past offseason, and in return, the right-hander has given the team the worst performance of his career.

The 30-year-old right-hander has been responsible for a 4.66 ERA and 4.38 FIP through 20 starts, earning much of his value (1.2 fWAR) by simply being available and covering innings (104.1). In a fun (or cruel, depending on your perspective) twist of fate, he could be making his final start for the Mets against his former team, auditioning for the rest of the league prior to the trade deadline.

But what if he's really re-auditioning for the Brewers? They just lost another rotation stalwart in Brandon Woodruff and are managing injuries and fatigue with their two top starters, Jacob Misiorowski and Kyle Harrison. Peralta is a known quantity for them and would be a less-risky bet than some of the other rental pitchers available.

If such a deal does go down, don't expect the Mets to come anywhere close to recouping the value they lost in Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams. However, Peralta remains a playoff-tested veteran with a long track record of pitching like an ace in Milwaukee -- the Brewers would surely give up someone of note to bring their old friend back into town before another playoff run.

Ranking tiers of prospects Mets could ask for in a Freddy Peralta-Brewers trade deadline blockbuster

Dream target: Andrew Fischer (3B)

Fischer, the Crew's first-round pick in 2026, possesses the kind of genuine game-changing power this franchise has been missing since Pete Alonso walked in free agency. He's up to a whopping 29 home runs in 79 games this year split between High-A and Double-A, slugging .674 with a 171 wRC+ for good measure.

There are absolutely concerns in his game, including questionable fielding instincts at the hot corner and an enormous strikeout rate (33.5%), but that's par for the course with a prospect whose carrying tool is his power.

Perhaps there's some concern that Fischer would block top prospect Jacob Reimer (or vice versa) at third base, but the Mets have a long-term need at every infield position besides shortstop -- and even that could change if they trade Francisco Lindor. The best bet right now is to acquire the best player available and let the depth chart sort itself out in the future.

Realistic target: Brady Ebel (SS)

The Brewers' other first-round pick a year ago, Ebel is about three years younger than Fischer and owns a more well-rounded game. Naturally, the trade-off is that he doesn't have any one blue-chip tool that will help him fly through the minors.

As an 18-year-old in Low-A this year, the shortstop owns a 122 wRC+ with 26 stolen bases through 81 games. He's a slick fielder who has the chops to stick in the middle infield as he climbs the minor-league ladder, but he also has third base experience from high school.

This is a much higher-floor profile than you usually find with high schoolers, and he could be a long-term answer at short if the Mets keep Lindor around for a while longer. The Brewers, who have an impossible amount of prospect depth at the position, won't clutch too tightly on to Ebel despite his draft pedigree.

Safety valve: Luke Adams (1B)

If the goal is to get someone who can impact the 2027 Mets from Opening Day onward, Adams may be the best bet. He's a powerful corner infield prospect whose long-term home likely resides at first base, though he can hit enough to earn that job at the MLB level.

The 22-year-old owns a .261/.404/.605 (154 wRC+) triple-slash this season, producing 23 extra-base hits in just 48 games played. He's also a savant at getting to first base, working 24 walks and 15(!) hit-by-pitches on the year.

As someone who is Rule 5 eligible after this season, the Brewers will more than likely look to move Adams to a team with more available 40-man space. He shouldn't be the only prospect the Mets acquire for Peralta, but he'd be a fine centerpiece in a deadline deal.

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This article was originally published on risingapple.com as 3 Brewers prospects the NY Mets can target in a Freddy Peralta trade reunion.