Ten games into the season, the New York Yankees’ offense looks strong enough to manage without Juan Soto—but the real question is whether their pitching staff can hold up in Gerrit Cole’s absence. So far, the results have been shaky, signaling that general manager Brian Cashman might need to look for help.
That urgency was clear on Opening Day when the Yankees got a firsthand look at a potential trade target: Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta. Pitching at Yankee Stadium, Peralta threw five innings, giving up two earned runs on four hits—including two home runs—while striking out eight. Though the Brewers lost 4-2, Peralta’s performance stood out.
Former MLB outfielder and current analyst Cameron Maybin wasted no time calling for action. “I’ll say it on day one—the Yankees need to find a way to trade for Freddy Peralta before this season is over!” he posted on Twitter.
Peralta, 28, has emerged as Milwaukee’s ace following Corbin Burnes’ departure. He’s coming off a 2023 season with a 3.86 ERA and 200 strikeouts over 173 ⅔ innings, and he’s under team control through 2026—making him a prime trade target.
According to Jon Conahan of Heavy.com, any serious trade talks for Peralta would likely start with Spencer Jones, the 6-foot-6 outfield prospect once seen as a potential heir to Aaron Judge. But Jones has yet to meet expectations. He’s back in Double-A working to fix his swing—especially his strikeout issues—after fanning in nearly 37% of his plate appearances last year. Even after offseason adjustments, he struck out 16 times in 32 spring training at-bats.
It’s a reminder that prospects are never guaranteed. And while acquiring Peralta would cost the Yankees some promising talent, the immediate upgrade to their rotation could be well worth the price.
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