The Phillies are off to a blistering 7-2 start this season, positioning themselves for what looks to be a season-long battle with the Mets for NL East supremacy. Both teams have championship aspirations, as do the defending champion Dodgers in the National League race.
While the Mets and Dodgers grabbed headlines with splashy offseason moves, Philadelphia took a more calculated approach to supporting their core. But that doesn’t mean they’re done dealing.
A blockbuster trade seems inevitable for the Phillies, and Brewers ace Freddy Peralta could be the target. Athlon Sports’ Jon Conahan makes a compelling case for why Peralta would be a perfect rotation addition, especially for October baseball.
“The Phillies arguably have the best duo in Major League Baseball with Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler, but they could use another arm in the middle of their rotation,” Conahan writes. “Peralta would be exactly that and has proven to be a guy who can be counted on throughout his career.
In 2024, he tossed to a 3.68 ERA and struck out 200 hitters in 173 2/3 innings. In a Phillies rotation where he could be the fourth option, it’s scary to think about how good this team would be in the postseason.”
The Phillies currently have the 17th-ranked farm system according to MLB.com. That’s middle-of-the-pack, but they do have intriguing prospects like pitcher Andrew Painter and shortstop Aidan Miller who would certainly catch Milwaukee’s eye in trade talks.
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The question is whether the Phillies feel they need to strengthen their rotation. They’re already rolling with four solid arms in Wheeler, Nola, Jesus Luzardo, and Cristopher Sanchez. But there’s a catch – Luzardo and Sanchez lack significant October experience.
That’s where Peralta comes in. The 28-year-old would bring valuable experience and proven success to a rotation gearing up for a championship run. The bigger question might be what Philadelphia is willing to sacrifice from their future to win now if the Brewers eventually put their ace on the block.
