After a disastrous stint with the New York Mets, Freddy Peralta looked like a player whose career was fading. He posted a 4.99 ERA in 22 starts, his fastball had gone lifeless, and his confidence was shot. The Tampa Bay Rays acquired the two-time All-Star at the trade deadline for three prospects, taking a calculated risk on his track record and stuff.
The turnaround began in Denver. Pitching coach Kyle Snyder, bullpen coach Jorge Moncada, the catchers and several front office members met with Peralta to work on his delivery, pitch mix and mentality. His Rays debut against the Colorado Rockies was rough, with seven runs allowed over 3⅔ innings. But his next outing, six innings of three-run ball against the A's, showed the changes were taking hold.
A key adjustment came after Moncada compared video of Peralta at his best with Milwaukee and his worst with the Mets. Peralta had abandoned the stretch position he used in his 2025 All-Star season in favor of an elaborate windup. When Moncada asked which he preferred, Peralta said he felt most comfortable pitching from the stretch, and the Rays let him return to it.
With Drew Rasmussen, Nick Martinez and Shane McClanahan forming the rotation core, and McClanahan later sidelined by forearm tightness, Peralta became essential. He now takes the mound at Tropicana Field in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series with a chance to pitch Tampa Bay into the World Series. "Everything changed when I got traded," the 30-year-old said.
Source: ESPN MLB · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing