Mets Send Freddy Peralta to Rays for 3 Prospects Before Monday Deadline

Q: Could the Mets have secretly secured a future superstar in Aidan Smith in exchange for a mere rental pitcher?

Yes — but “secretly secured a future superstar” is still too strong based on the evidence. Aidan Smith is clearly the upside play in this deal. He is a 21-year-old, 6-foot-3 center-field prospect with real athleticism, speed and emerging power. Reports cite a 14-homer, 41-steal season at High-A, and evaluators have long liked his projectable frame, contact ability and tools. He has even drawn attention for unusual two-way athletic traits, though he is being developed as an outfielder. That kind of power-speed profile is exactly the sort that can outperform prospect rankings if the bat fully develops. Still, the public evaluations do not yet place him in “future superstar” territory. In a deep Rays system, Smith was generally viewed more as a lower-tier Top 30 prospect than a headline name. FanGraphs recently had him around No. 32 in the organization with a 40+ future value, which usually points more to a possible regular or role player than a projected star. He also missed time this year with a hamstring injury and remains in High-A, so there is meaningful development risk and distance from the majors. For the Mets, that does not make Smith a throw-in. It means they targeted variance and upside in a rental deal. If Smith’s tools translate against upper-level pitching, New York could eventually look very smart. But right now, the safer interpretation is that the Mets acquired an intriguing, high-ceiling athlete — not a hidden superstar already waiting to be unveiled.

3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Aug 2

Three minor leaguers — Aidan Smith, Emilien Pitre and Gary Gill Hill — are headed to New York in the deal for Freddy Peralta, which was agreed Sunday but not yet announced.
Peralta, 30, can become a free agent after the World Series and struggled in New York after arriving in a January trade, posting a 4.99 ERA over 22 starts.
Tampa Bay is adding him to deepen an already strong rotation as it pushes for the postseason with the AL’s best record at 65-45 and a 3 1/2-game AL East lead over the Yankees.
The move underscores opposite deadline paths a day before Monday’s 6 p.m. EDT cutoff: the last-place Mets are selling, while the Rays are buying.