After ten games this season, the New York Yankees’ offense seems able to manage without Juan Soto. However, the bigger concern is whether their pitching staff can make up for Gerrit Cole’s absence. Early performances have been disappointing, underscoring the need for general manager Brian Cashman to pursue additional help. This became clear on Opening Day when he witnessed a potential target in person.
Freddy Peralta of the Milwaukee Brewers pitched at Yankee Stadium, delivering a strong performance. Over five innings, he allowed two earned runs on four hits—including two home runs—and struck out eight batters. Despite his solid effort, the Brewers lost to the Yankees 4-2. That same day, former MLB outfielder and current Foul Territory analyst Cameron Maybin urged the Yankees to trade for Peralta. “I’ll say it on day one, the Yankees need to find a way to trade for Freddy Peralta before this season is over!”
Maybin tweeted. Peralta, 28, is coming off a season with a 3.86 ERA and 200 strikeouts in 173 ⅔ innings, becoming the Brewers’ ace after Corbin Burnes’ departure. His contract runs through 2026, making him a valuable asset. According to Jon Conahan of Heavy.com, any trade talks for Peralta would likely start with Spencer Jones. Once seen as a potential successor to Aaron Judge due to his 6-foot-6 frame and power, Jones has struggled to meet expectations. Currently back in Double-A, he’s working on improving his contact skills, including using the torpedo bat.
Last season, he struck out 36.8% of the time, and despite offseason work, he struck out 16 times in 32 spring at-bats. This highlights the reality that not all prospects reach their potential. While trading for Peralta would cost significant prospects, the potential benefits for the Yankees could outweigh the risk.
