Freddy Peralta's struggles hurt Mets as trade deadline looms

Freddy Peralta entered the July 1 game at Toronto's Rogers Centre on Canada Day and allowed five earned runs on seven hits in four innings, raising his ERA to 4.81 as the New York Mets fell 9‑3 to the Blue Jays. The loss extended the Mets’ skid to a fifth straight series and left the team with a 36‑51 record as the August 3 trade deadline approaches.

Peralta, a two‑time All‑Star and a key trade chip for New York, has seen his fastball velocity and strikeout rate drop, prompting questions about his value on the market. Mets owner Steve Cohen recently affirmed baseball‑operations president David Stearns’ job security, while the club continues to shuffle its roster, having moved pitcher David Peterson to Chicago and added depth in the minors. The poor outing has intensified speculation on whether the Mets will trade the struggling right‑hander before the deadline.