The Baseball Buffet for 1/22/2026

Mets acquire SP Freddy Peralta from the Brewers. According to an article by Anthony DiComo at MLB, the Mets are trading highly-touted prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat to the Brewers for right-handed SP Freddy Peralta, plus right-handed SP/RP Tobias Myers. There had been rumors of Peralta being traded, not because the Brewers won’t be competitive in 2026, but because Peralta is in the final year of his contract and so approaching free agency in 2027. The 29-year old Peralta has pitched for the Brewers for eight years, with 30+ starts and 200+ K in each of the past three seasons, including a 2.70 ERA, a 1.075 WHIP, and a 17-6 record in 2025.

Adding Peralta gives the Mets an established ace to front their rotation, which now has an abundance of options including Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes, David Peterson, Kodak Senga, and Sean Manaea. 22-year old prospect Jonah Tong had a 7.71 ERA in five major league starts in 2025 (with 22 K in 18.2 IP), so the addition of Peralta likely allows him to at least start the season at AAA. And the inclusion of 27-year old Tobias Myers in this deal gives the Mets even more SP depth, as he had a 3.00 ERA over 138 IP mostly as a starter in 2024 before injuries and shuttling between AAA and the Majors limited him in 2025 to a 3.55 ERA over 50.2 IP in a mixed starter/reliever role.

No doubt the Brewers were talking about Peralta with several teams, and so were able to extract a steep price from the Mets in this deal. As DiComo notes, Jett Williams was, according to MLB rankings, the Mets’ #3 ranked prospect, and Brandon Sproat was their #5 ranked prospect. The 22-year old Williams was the Mets’ round one draft pick (14th overall) in 2022, and did well at AA last year, with 10 HR, 32 SB, and a .281 average over 96 games, before struggling with a .209 average in 34 games at AAA. Primarily a SS, he can also play 2B and CF, so presumably the Brewers will see how he looks during Spring Training before deciding to give him a role or send him back to AAA to start the season.

Similarly, 25-year old Brandon Sproat was the Mets 2nd-round draft pick in 2023, and could make the Brewers’ roster if he has a great spring, or could start the season at AAA. He had a 4.79 ERA in four starts for the Mets last year, with a 4.24 ERA and 113 K in 121 IP at AAA. Subtracting Peralta leaves the Brewers with a likely rotation (in some order) of Jacob Misiorowski Brandon Woodruff, Quinn Priester, Chad Patrick, and Logan Henderson, with Robert Gasser and now Sproat also in the mix.

3B Adrian Beltré - Dodgers (1998-2004), Mariners (2006-09), Red Sox (2010), Rangers (2011-18)

2B/1B Rod Carew - Twins (1967-78), Angels (1979-85)

SP/RP John Smoltz - Braves (1988-2008), Red Sox (2009)

SP Catfish Hunter - Yankees (1975-79)

RP Dan Quisenberry - Royals (1979-88)

SP Mickey Lolich - Tigers (1963-75) and two other clubs

OF Joe Carter - Blue Jays (1991-97) and two other clubs

OF Ken Singleton - Mets (1970-71), Expos (1972-74), Orioles (1975-84)

OF Jesse Barfield - Blue Jays (1981-89), Yankees (1989-92)

3B Tim Wallach - Expos (1981-92), Dodgers (1994-96)

1B Mike Sweeney - Royals (1995-2007)

1B/DH Andre Thornton - Indians (1977-87)

2B Bret Boone - Reds (1994-98), Padres (2000), Mariners (2001-05)

OF Rusty Greer - Rangers (1994-2002)

SP Tarik Skubal - Tigers (2020-25)

C Cal Raleigh - Mariners (2021-25)

1929: The beginning of MLB uniform numbers. “The New York Yankees announce they will put numbers on the backs of their uniforms, becoming the first baseball team to start continuous use of the numbers. The first numbers are based on positions in the batting order; thus, Babe Ruth will wear number 3 and Lou Gehrig number 4. In a few weeks, the Cleveland Indians announce that they, too, will put numbers on the uniforms. By 1931, all American League teams will use them. It will be 1933 before all National League players are numbered.”

1969: The Expos trade for Rusty Staub. “The Montreal Expos trade first baseman Donn Clendenon and outfielder Jesús Alou to the Houston Astros for first baseman/outfielder Rusty Staub. Clendenon, however, refuses to report to Houston and announces that he is retiring instead. A few days later, Clendenon will decide that he would be willing to go to one of several other teams, a move which outrages the Astros. Meanwhile, Staub and Alou are caught in limbo between the two teams. It will be April before the issues are resolved, with Clendenon staying in Montreal and two other players (Ps Jack Billingham and Skip Guinn) headed to Houston in compensation.”

1976: Robin Roberts and Bob Lemon are elected to the Hall of Fame. “Pitchers Robin Roberts and Bob Lemon are voted into the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Roberts led the National League in starts and innings pitched for five straight seasons and was tops in victories for four consecutive years on his way to 286 career wins. Lemon earned 20 victories six times and won 207 career games.”

1982: Reggie Jackson signs with the Angels. “Free agent Reggie Jackson signs a four-year, nearly $4 million contract with the Angels, ending his five-year roller coaster ride with the Yankees.”

2003: The Red Sox sign David Ortiz. “Former Minnesota Twins backup David Ortiz is signed by the Boston Red Sox, where he will start a successful and productive career over the coming years.”

2019: Mariano Rivera, Roy Halladay, Mike Mussina, and Edgar Martinez are elected to the Hall of Fame. “Mariano Rivera becomes the first unanimous inductee in the Hall of Fame, being named on all 425 ballots cast by members of the BBWAA in the 2019 Hall of Fame Election. Joining him are fellow pitchers Roy Halladay, who becomes a posthumous first-ballot Hall of Famer, and Mike Mussina, and DH/3B Edgar Martinez, the latter in his tenth and final year of eligibility.”

2021: Hank Aaron passes away at 86. “Hank Aaron, who broke Babe Ruth's hallowed mark of 714 career homers and still stands second on the all-time list, passes away at age 86.”

12-year major league career, spanning from 2002-2014, mostly with the Angels and Mariners

Was a good base stealer, with 30+ SB seven times, including an AL-leading 62 SB in 2005

Had 17 triples in 2004, a .330 average in 2007, and an AL-leading 101 walks in 2009, which was his one All-Star campaign when he had a career-high 114 runs

Mostly played a mix of 3B, 2B, and CF

Overall had 341 SB, a .276 average, and a .349 OBP

12-year major league pitching career, spanning from 2006-2017, with the Rockies, Indians, and Orioles

As a rookie in 2007 had a 4.28 ERA across 15 regular season starts and then played an important role for the Rockies’ postseason run with a 2.25 ERA across four starts

Had 12+ wins five times, including in his career year in 2010 when he was an All-Star for the Rockies with a 19-8 record, a 2.88 ERA, and 214 K

Overall had a 114-117 record, a 4.34 ERA, and an even 100 ERA+

14-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1971-1984, mostly with Brewers, Padres, and Giants

Had a good season for the Giants in 1974 with a 14-5 record and a 2.95 ERA

Had by far his best season in 1978 for the Brewers with 22-9 record with a 2.36 ERA, 23 complete games, and 6 shutouts

After struggling in one ALCS start for the Brewers in 1982, he did much better in the World Series posting a 2.04 ERA over three appearances (two starts) and 17.2 IP

Overall had a 137-130 record and a 3.81 ERA

12-year major league career, spanning from 2006-2017, mostly as a catcher with the Phillies

Was an All-Star in 2012 when he had career-highs with a .325 average, 16 HR, and 68 RBI

Overall had 71 HR, a .264/.350/.391 slash line, and an even 100 OPS+

17-year major league career, spanning from 1908-1924, mostly with the Athletics and White Sox

Had 20+ SB four times, and 12-16 triples three times

Played all three OF positions, but primarily CF

Overall had 185 SB, a .284/.359/.374 slash line, and a 112 OPS+

All game times for regular season, World Baseball Classic, Spring Breakout released, by MLB writers, 1/21/2026

Here are the Top 10 shortstop prospects for 2026, by Sam Dykstra at MLB, 1/21/2026

Two New HOF Center Fielders, Two Taints Attached, by Jeff Kallman at Here's the Pitch: the IBWAA Newsletter, 1/21/2026