Mock Trades the Mets Could Make for Freddy Peralta or Clay Holmes

With the 2026 MLB trade deadline rapidly approaching, the New York Mets are positioned as clear sellers.

New York has two valuable starting pitchers on their roster that they will look to sell off in the coming days: Clay Holmes and Freddy Peralta. Both right-handers are likely rental trade pieces, as the latter is set to hit free agency at season’s end and the former has a $12 million player option attached to his contract.

Peralta was brought to New York to headline the rotation of what was expected to be a contending team in 2026. For a multitude of reasons, including his poor play, the Mets’ season has played out to be a catastrophe.

On the other hand, Holmes was off to the best start of his career before his season was paused due to a fractured fibula he suffered back in May.

Both pitchers will more than likely be traded at the deadline, and despite their polar opposite performance this season, both hold trade value. The question at hand for the Mets is: Which player is more valuable?

Let’s break down which arm holds more value on the market and dive into some potential mock trades that could benefit the Mets in the long run.

Who Has More Trade Value, Freddy Peralta or Clay Holmes?

Despite the vast disparity in their performance this season, Peralta may hold more value on the trade market than Holmes.

His name value alone and postseason experience hold weight for contending teams in need of a boost in their rotation. At worst, Peralta provides a capable innings eater that can start 10-plus games to finish out the regular season as well as factoring into a playoff rotation.

Reports have surfaced in recent days that some rival executives believe that the blame for Peralta’s shortcomings this season should be placed on the Mets rather than himself. The 30-year-old has simply not been able to consistently put hitters away this season due to a tremendous dip in the quality of his stuff.

Additionally, Peralta commands a smaller salary for the rest of the season compared to Holmes and is a true rental. Holmes has a player option attached to him for 2027, and while odds are he will elect to hit free agency, there is always a chance that will not happen. That means teams with less financial flexibility may hesitate to deal for the 33-year-old.

However, the most obvious damper on Holmes’ value is the fact that he is going to be fresh off a major injury. He has begun to make rehab starts in the minor leagues as he ramps up for his return to a big league mound, but it has been more than two months since he pitched for the Mets.

Both hurlers come with their pros and cons for opposing teams to look at, so let’s call it a wash and say their value is even. Due to their value being so similar, the two veteran arms are basically interchangeable in potential mock trades.

Let’s look at four trade proposals that include the kind of value the Mets should recoup for either Holmes or Peralta.

Chicago Cubs Mock Trade

Mets Receive: Brooks Caple and James Triantos

The Cubs desperately need starting pitching help and have already taken one of New York’s starters this season. Chicago acquired David Peterson from the Mets in late June, and dealing for another Mets starter at the deadline makes perfect sense.

Adding Holmes or Peralata to a rotation that has been decimated by injuries all season should increase Chicago’s chances of returning to the postseason for a second consecutive year.

In return, the Mets receive two intriguing prospects in Caple and Triantos.

Triantos recently debuted with the Cubs after they selected him in the second round back in 2021. He laced a single in his first career plate appearance in the major leagues.

The prep school product out of Virginia has bounced back after struggling offensively a season ago, slashing .306/.344/.440 in 88 games at Triple-A Iowa in 2026. On top of that, he has swiped 18 bags in the minors this season and flashed solid range up the middle defensively.

Caple is a towering 6-foot-6 strike thrower who fits the mold of the recent organizational pitching philosophy implemented by the Mets: taller players who pound the zone with a steady fastball and then have to develop secondary options to play off of the heater.

The 23-year-old right-hander has pitched to a 3.56 ERA in ten starts at the Double-A level thus far in 2026. He clearly is not a finished product, but with some molding, Caple could slot in toward the back end of New York’s rotation for years to come.

Cleveland Guardians Mock Trade

Mets Receive: Braylon Doughty (JB No. 96) or Jaison Chourio

Either way, if the Mets were able to pry one of these prospects from Cleveland, they would be thrilled. Both Doughty and Chourio have tremendous upside and are still very young.

At just 20 years old, Doughty has struggled in his first five starts at the Double-A level after mowing down hitters in High-A earlier this season. The former first-round pick is a strikeout machine on the hill, averaging 10.93 strikeouts per nine across two levels of the minors.

Scouts love his off-speed profile, with both his slider and curveball grading out well. Add on his ability to throw strikes, and the sky is the limit for the current Cleveland farmhand.

Chourio is no slouch of a prospect either, flashing various tools that will help him reach the major league level soon. The younger brother of Brewers star Jackson, Jaison hits for a high average and is a speed threat on the bases just like his older brother.

Since being promoted to Double-A, Chourio has enjoyed a power surge by his standards, belting six home runs in 58 games. Homers are not the name of the 21-year-old’s game, but it’s promising to see that his power may be beginning to come around.

Chicago White Sox Mock Trade

Mets Receive: David Sandlin and William Bergolla Jr.

Sandlin recently debuted in the show with Chicago and did not impress early in his major league career. However, there is a lot to like about the Oklahoma product based on the flashes he has shown at Triple-A Charlotte this season.

The stuff certainly won’t be blowing hitters away anytime soon, but Sandlin consistently found ways to get outs in the minor leagues. Ultimately, that is the name of the game. Realistically, he could offer some potential as a back-end starter or slot in as a long reliever in the bullpen.

Bergolla is an outlier in today’s game, having hit only one career professional homer. Yet, the contact-first approach the 21-year-old infielder takes has produced nearly a .300 career batting average in the minors.

Unfortunately, Bergolla broke his leg while still rehabbing from a prior injury and will be sidelined for the remainder of the season. He is still extremely young, but a major injury like that can be difficult to rehab and make a full return from. If the Mets were to acquire him as a part of this deal, they would be taking on a major risk after an incident of such magnitude.

Tampa Bay Rays Mock Trade

Mets receive: Brody Hopkins (JB No. 49)

If the Mets were to deal one of their top trade pieces to Tampa Bay, Brody Hopkins would be a nice return. The 24-year-old is big league ready and has shown positive flashes in Triple-A this season.

Hopkins has struck out 105 hitters in just 84 innings thus far in 2026, generating whiffs at a strong 33.7% rate. His main issue in the minors is command, walking 20.8% of the batters he has faced this year. His upper-90’s fastball has great life, but at times he does struggle to throw strikes with the heater.

While he is big league ready, the Winthrop product has ways to go still in his development. However, with some molding and proper adjustments, the Mets could bring in a solid starting option for the foreseeable future.