Matt Arnold On Not Trading Freddy Peralta: "I would expect him to be a big part of this going down the stretch"

[Brock Beauchamp]

Curt Hogg of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel caught some quotes from Brewers General Manager Matt Arnold on trading Freddy Peralta.

Long story short, it's unlikely (as should be the case). Peralta's guaranteed contract ends after the season, but it includes a ridiculously cheap team option for 2026, which the Brewers will surely pick up following the season.

While Arnold said it's unlikely Peralta will be traded, he couched his statement in GM-speak:

“Obviously, it’s important for us to never close the door, but Freddy means the world to our franchise and all of us,” Arnold said. “I would expect him to be a big part of this going down the stretch. It’s something that we can never exclusively say no on anything. But he just means so much to so many people here. I’m thrilled to have him as a part of this team.”

After the Josh Hader debacle of 2022, it's hard to envision the Brewers front office trading one of the leaders of their pitching staff amid a race for the division title. If Peralta is to be traded before he enters free agency, this offseason is the most likely time for such trade rumors to emerge.

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[endaround]

I'm expecting a huge salary cut next year with the salaries of Vaughn, Cortes, and Hoskins not being replaced (Woodruff is really getting paid next year, part of why no new signings expected).  But even then hard to see them moving Peralta.  Next year's rotation of Peralta, Misiorowski, Henderson, Patrick, and Priester seems too good to move Peralta to weaken.

[Scooterfletcher]

I can see him moved in the off-season for a Jordan Lawlar type.