St. Louis Cardinals eye Freddy Peralta trade while reshuffling roster

The St. Louis Cardinals, in the midst of a 2026 rebuild, are pursuing a trade for New York Mets right‑hander Freddy Peralta. Peralta posted a 2.70 ERA and 204 strikeouts in 2025 and is listed at a 3.90 ERA this season, with a career 3.61 ERA and 1,234 strikeouts. The proposed deal would send Peralta to St. Louis in exchange for pitching prospect Tekoah Roby, who missed most of 2026 after Tommy John surgery, and 20‑year‑old outfield prospect Peete, a power‑speed talent projected for the majors by 2027.

At the same time, the Cardinals have demoted third‑baseman Nolan Gorman to the Florida Complex League to work on his swing. Club president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said, “All of this is designed to get his swing to a less steep place, where he’s got a much better chance to make quality contact on a variety of pitches.” The move reflects the organization’s focus on development, similar to earlier decisions involving Victor Scott II and other struggling players.