For now, the Milwaukee Brewers have no plans to trade Freddy Peralta. They are reportedly prepared to ride out the final year of Peralta’s contract and let him go in free agency if no appealing offer emerges. According to GM Matt Arnold, other teams haven’t come close to piquing the Brewers’ interest.
All that could change, of course, is someone decides to pony up a massive haul.
Manager Pat Murphy is well aware of the possibilities. His comments on Peralta following Tuesday’s winter meetings carry a clear suggestion to the front office. Find a way to keep him, even if only for this year.
If it was up to Murphy, Peralta’s fate next season would already be clear
Murphy has been a member of Milwaukee’s coaching staff since Peralta entered the league in 2018. Murphy took over as manager two seasons ago and was at the helm for his pitcher’s career-best 2025 campaign, earning Peralta his second All-Star selection and a top five finish in Cy Young voting. His manager isn’t ready to give up his front-row seat to Peralta’s MLB journey.
“I love being part of his career,” Murphy said via ESPN. I’ve seen every pitch he’s made in the big leagues. It’s personal to me. And I love the man. And I hope he’s a Brewer.”
Regardless of how things pan out, Murphy also indicated his support for the individual player. Whether or not he remains in Milwaukee beyond this season, he wants what’s best for his pitcher.
Murphy knows Peralta deserves his bag. Winter meetings drove that knowledge home. “I watched some of these contracts out here. He’s due to be a wealthy man, have a lot of acreage if he wants it, maybe beachfront acreage … wherever he wants it in multiple islands.”
Certainly Peralta has put in his dues in Milwaukee. Over eight seasons, he has appeared in 211 games and made 162 starts in a Brewers jersey, pitching to a 3.59 career ERA. He’s coming off a career-high 17 wins in 2025 and three straight seasons of at least 200 strikeouts. He is the obvious ace of the staff. Playing on $8 million team option next season, his salary is almost laughably high-value.
Peralta has been with the franchise even longer. Acquired via a trade as a prospect back in 2015, he began the climb up from A ball and debuted at age 21. Now 29, he’s not only Milwaukee’s ace but one of the best pitchers in baseball. Even for an impressive trade package, losing him would be a massive blow to the rotation and likely limit what the Brewers can accomplish next season.
It’s not just the prospect of losing Peralta’s contributions on the mound. Strong emotional bonds are forged over eight long seasons. “You know the player, you know what he brings, and you know your connection with him. And when he’s not there for you, you’re like, God, I miss him.”
If the team does decide to move Peralta, the question is when they’ll try to do it. The front office could employ a wait-and-see approach: ride out the first few months, gauge Milwaukee’s ability to contend for a World Series as the deadline approaches, and make a decision then.
Or, they could attempt to maximize the return by flipping him in the offseason, sometime in the next months, making him more than just a rental for the receiving team.
“I think they know what they’re doing,” Murphy said of Brewers brass. “My role is to take whatever guys we have. I hope Freddy is one of them.” He also isn’t kidding himself about the real possibility that Peralta is gone before opening day. “And then you just turn the page, keep going. That’s part of our world.”
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