With the 2025 MLB trade deadline approaching, speculation has swirled around star pitcher Freddy Peralta and whether the Milwaukee Brewers might deal him as they’ve done with big names in the past. But this time, the rumors are set to disappoint suitors. Here’s why the “Fastball Freddy” trade isn’t going to happen.
Freddy Peralta Unlikely to Be Traded at Deadline
Performance at an Elite Level
Freddy Peralta is in the middle of a career year, anchoring a pitching staff that’s powered Milwaukee into National League Central contention. As of late July, Peralta sports an 11–4 record, a 2.66 ERA, and 118 strikeouts across 20 starts, leading MLB in wins. These are the numbers of a true ace. The All-Star’s consistency has been crucial. With Brandon Woodruff injured to start the year and young arms still coming into their own, Peralta has provided the stability and dominance needed atop the rotation. Simply put, Milwaukee’s 2025 surge doesn’t happen without him.
Freddy Peralta, Wicked 81mph Curveball.
pic.twitter.com/fBRAZ0TqA4
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 20, 2025
The Financial Factor: Elite Production For a Bargain
Peralta’s contract is one of baseball’s best values. He’s making just $8 million in 2025, with a similarly affordable $8 million club option for 2026. While other teams pay upwards of $30 million a year for comparable production, Milwaukee is capitalizing on the extension they signed back in 2020. That deal keeps Peralta cost-controlled. He is highly attractive to the Brewers’ front office. In fact, he’s only the 57th highest-paid starter projected for next year. That makes him one of the biggest bargains among MLB’s elite arms.
Club Control and Extension Talks
The Brewers have Peralta under contract for a bargain price through 2026. Both sides have also shown interest in continuing their relationship. Peralta has openly stated he’d love to remain a Brewer “his whole career,” and has made attempts to secure a longer-term extension. Unlike previous years, where outgoing stars were destined for free agency, Peralta represents not just present value but also future stability. He hasn’t been on the injured list since 2022 and continues to build his resume as a top-20 starter in all of baseball.
The State of the Franchise
Past moves, like the controversial Josh Hader trade in 2022, have left scars among the fanbase and within the clubhouse. General Manager Matt Arnold and the front office are acutely aware of this dynamic. With Milwaukee firmly in the playoff race, trading Peralta would almost certainly be viewed as an organizational betrayal. This could potentially derail on-field momentum and off-field trust. Reports are consistent that despite significant outside interest, executives across baseball admit it’s a “long shot” that Peralta is moved. Brewers ownership is determined to break through in October. Peralta, a 2025 All-Star selection, will be the Game 1 starter if Milwaukee gets to a postseason series.
The Window Is Now
This year is not a rebuild; it’s an opportunity. Milwaukee’s mix of experienced players and promising youth is positive. Along with Peralta’s emergence as a leader, he represents the franchise’s best chance in years to make a deep playoff run. Trading the team’s ace in the thick of a division hunt would send the wrong message. Freddy Peralta is not going anywhere before the trade deadline. His ace-level performance, team-friendly contract, mutual desire to stay, and the Brewers’ competitive window all add up to the same answer, Milwaukee is keeping its star right where he is. Fans at American Family Field can expect to see Peralta in Brewers blue. He should be dealing, dominating, and chasing October glory for at least another season in Cream City.
Main Photo Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
The post Why Freddy Peralta Won’t Be Traded by the Brewers appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.