The New York Mets are in a tough spot. Sitting at the bottom of the National League East and the entire National League, their 2026 season has been a disaster—and things don’t look like they’ll turn around anytime soon. If the slide continues, the Mets could become sellers at the trade deadline, and their one-year rentals like Luis Robert Jr., Bo Bichette, and Freddy Peralta would be prime candidates to move.

Of those options, the one the Mets should prioritize trading is Peralta, their frontline starter. Why? The reasoning is solid. Peralta was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in a blockbuster offseason deal that headlined Brandon Sproat—a significant investment. He’s a good pitcher who would be incredibly valuable for a contender this season. But here’s the catch: he’s in the final year of his contract and will become a free agent this winter.

If the Mets aren’t contending by the deadline and extension talks aren’t progressing, trading Peralta makes the most sense. As USA Today’s Bob Nightengale pointed out, “They could re-engage before the trade deadline, but if they don’t reach a deal, why not get something for him now?”

Instead of risking losing him in free agency for little to nothing in return, the Mets could deal him to a contender like the Chicago Cubs or San Diego Padres and get some assets back. Sure, trading your ace is a sign that the 2026 season has gone off the rails. But the worst-case scenario is missing the postseason and watching Peralta walk away for nothing.

For a team looking to rebuild on the fly, that’s a mistake they can’t afford. If things don’t improve, the Mets should seriously consider pulling the trigger on a Peralta trade before it’s too late.