Mets, Freddy Peralta “Highly Unlikely” To Agree To Extension Before Opening Day
Back in the first week of March, Freddy Peralta and the Mets haven’t started any real talks about a possible contract extension, and Peralta said he was looking to make a deal “seven or eight years” in length. In a recent update from Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the two sides have had some level of talks at this point, and things are still different enough between Peralta and the Mets that an extension is “highly unlikely” to happen before Opening Day.
This does not completely exclude the agreement. The Mets are said to be open to talking even after the start of the game on March 26, and Peralta “didn’t say he was against” continuing the talks, although he told Heyman that he would let his agents at ACES make that determination. Most players set Opening Day as the deadline for extension negotiations to focus exclusively on baseball, although this is not the same method, and naturally negotiations tend to continue if both sides feel they are very close to finalizing a deal.
Peralta is set to become a free agent next winter, which is why the Brewers were looking to trade the ace this offseason rather than let him walk for a draft pick at the end of the season. The Mets won the bid to get Peralta away from Milwaukee, and between both the big trade return and Peralta’s obvious talent, New York is certainly interested in keeping Peralta in Queens for years to come. Exactly how many years seems to be the sticking point between the two teams, as Peralta’s goal of at least seven years conflicts with the Mets’ desire to sign pitchers to short-term contracts.
One potential risk would be a four- or five-year extension that costs a higher annual rate, and multiple exits. The Mets use such a structure to stay Bo Bichette on a three-year, $126MM free agent deal this offseason, with opt-outs included in previous contracts for Edwin Diaz again Pete Alonso. Given the possibility of a lockout next winter, an extension that includes an opt-out perhaps before the 2027-28 offseason would allow Peralta to re-enter the market at age 31, and avoid any labor unrest.
Of course, Peralta also projects to be one of the top free agents available next winter, so his market may not be affected as much as teams will be lining up to try to sign him (probably before the Collective Bargaining Agreement expires on December 1). Peralta also may not want to compromise on his next contract after already signing what ended up being the team’s best extension with the Brewers early in his career. That five-year, $15.5MM extension turned into a seven-year deal worth an additional $14.5MM for Peralta when Milwaukee exercised both club options, however it was a huge gain for the Brew Crew as Peralta developed into a top hitter.
David Stearns was the Brewers’ president of baseball operations during the Peralta extension, and Stearns now holds that role in New York’s front office. Perhaps Stearns is willing to extend the contract of a pitcher he clearly knows well and values highly, and with Peralta so close to free agency, the Mets may pay top dollar to keep Peralta from testing the market.
Speaking about the Mets’ extension with the pitcher, Heyman added that there is “no indication” that the Mets and Nolan McLean have discussed any long-term agreements. McLean was a breakout star in posting a 2.06 ERA over 48 innings in his first season in 2025, and now looks to be part of New York’s rotation.
As MLBTR’s Contract Tracker shows, it’s rare for pitchers to sign long-term extensions if they have less than one year of MLB service. Chris ArcherThe six-year, $25.5MM extension with the Rays from April 2014 remains the largest contract ever given to a pitcher with less than a year of service time, and McLean’s representatives at CAA will want to significantly exceed Archer’s number.
