The Atlanta Braves could potentially turn to a longtime adversary for help before the trade deadline.
ESPN insider Jeff Passan identified ideal trade targets for top MLB contenders on Thursday. He suggested an interesting fit for the Braves, calling New York Mets starting pitcher Freddy Peralta their "best match."
"The Braves desire something more certain," Passan wrote of their starting rotation. "And even if certainty isn't exactly what Freddy Peralta has provided for the Mets this season, there's enough history there for Atlanta to treat him as the upgrade he would be."
With the Mets plunging down the standings, Peralta looks poised to get traded again. The Mets sent top prospects Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams to acquire the fiery right-hander after he registered a 2.70 ERA and 204 strikeouts last year.
Rather than anchoring New York's rotation, Peralta is part of the reason the organization will likely shop him and other pending free agents. The two-time All-Star hasn't pitched to his usual standards with a 4.68 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 100 innings.
Contenders such as the Braves could still be tempted by a pitcher with a 3.69 career ERA who tallied at least 200 strikeouts in three straight seasons. The Athletic's Will Sammon wrote that Peralta will draw "plenty of interest," and executives believe the Mets will still receive a solid return for the 30-year-old.
Would they consider moving Peralta to a division rival for the right price? If so, he can bolster an Atlanta rotation that just sent Martin Perez to the injured list alongside Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach. Peralta could potentially give the National League East leaders a potent No. 2 starter behind Chris Sale.
Passan stayed in the NL East to consider another impact acquisition for Atlanta. Despite acknowledging the unlikelihood of a trade, Passan called Washington Nationals shortstop C.J. Abrams a "dream match" for the Braves.