The Tampa Bay Rays traded for a struggling Freddy Peralta at the MLB trade deadline from the New York Mets, hoping he’d figure things out after a change of scenery.
Peralta did more than just figure things out; he returned to All-Star form and helped the Rays get to the World Series. Now a free agent, Peralta is one of the more interesting names available this offseason.
While there is some concern about what a contract could look like after a disastrous stint with the Mets, ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel shared a contract projection for Peralta that proves his Rays tenure helped salvage his contract value.
ESPN projects Freddy Peralta will land contract that proves Rays’ stint saved his market
“3. Freddy Peralta, RHSP… Projected contract/QO: four years, $96 million (24 AAV), not eligible for QO,” McDaniel projects for ESPN.
This is a huge projection for Peralta. He was likely to sign a one-year prove-it deal this offseason as he struggled with the Mets.
But the Rays traded for Peralta and his 4.99 ERA in New York, hoping for a turnaround. He did just that, posting a 3.52 regular-season ERA and a 2.95 ERA in the postseason for the Rays.
That stint with Tampa Bay has seemingly salvaged his market value this offseason, with a $96 million projected contract from McDaniel.
While it might not be the same $210 million contract that Dylan Cease got last offseason, which Peralta might’ve been in line to get had he played great all year, this is a perfectly fine middle ground.
A four-year, $96 million contract would come in at $24 million per-year, which would be a bit above the one-year qualifying offer that he might’ve had to settle for this offseason had he not righted the ship in Tampa Bay.
McDaniel projecting Peralta at $96 million this offseason shows Peralta saved his market value, as he otherwise would’ve been far lower on a contract projection, likely around $20 million total. His Rays stint might’ve earned him $70+ million.
