Overview
- The Mets, which multiple reports Friday said are unlikely to engage in extension talks during the season, are expected to revisit Freddy Peralta’s future after the year.
- Peralta is in the final season of his deal and is now viewed as likely to reach free agency after 2026 if no agreement is made before then.
- Team president David Stearns has avoided large long-term deals for players 30 or older, and Peralta turns 30 in June, which shapes the club’s timing.
- Owner Steve Cohen’s spending power supports a patient approach, with reporting noting the club would rather pay in free agency than lock in early, as seen with Bo Bichette’s three-year, $126 million contract.
- This mirrors a long-running pattern, as the Mets have signed only nine extensions since 2010, and fellow pending free agent David Peterson is also not expected to receive an in-season deal.